Abstract:
A mattress pad positionable atop a rectangular mattress which better accommodates diverse weights and sizes of the human anatomy for enhanced comfort. The mattress pad includes a flexible bottom sheet having a size and shape substantially similar to that of a top surface of the mattress. A flexible fabric top sheet is connected to the bottom sheet by peripheral stitching along common perimeter side, head and foot margins. A plurality of generally side-by-side body supporting chambers are each defined by peripheral stitching and spaced lines of continuous stitching which interconnect the top and bottom sheets. Each chamber is filled with a loose stuffing of fibrous or synthetic material which is movable within the chamber and capable of localized accumulation within the chamber by manual body or hand manipulating pressure against the top sheet. Preselected nominal thicknesses of each of the chambers provides the comfort and accommodation to each portion of the human anatomy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to therapeutic body support pads and more particularly to an anatomically conformable mattress pad or overlay positionable atop a conventional mattress for enhanced body comfort for a recumbent person. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Conventional mattresses are typically designed for the general public or typical users to provide a reasonable degree of comfort to a broad base range of people. Although it is well known that the comfort level is heightened to the extent that the mattress conforms to the individual curves of the human anatomy, nonetheless it is commercially impractical to accommodate this need for the mass media. 
   A number of prior art inventions have attempted, some perhaps successfully, to either provide an entirely new mattress or to provide a mattress pad fitted atop a conventional mattress which better accommodates the individual anatomical needs for those who wish to have a more individualized custom fitting body support in the recumbent position thereatop. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,901, Farley teaches an anatomically comfortable therapeutic mattress overlay which is intended to redistribute body weight away from prominent areas of the human body and also to support selected anatomical body portions. This overlay includes a substantially planar resilient member including selected reinforcements between side edges which facilitate rotating a patient while in the recumbent position. This pad also includes cutouts to define handle holds by which to grasp the resilient pad. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,564, Thomas teaches a therapeutic mattress having a resilient bottom mattress section and a top mattress section comprised of a plurality of interconnected top mattress sections. A plurality of parallel rows of stitching interconnect the top and bottom covers, intermediate stitching also interconnecting the top and bottom to define the parallel rows of rectangular tubes which are filled with a compacted fibrous resilient material. 
   Jacobson, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,283, teaches a mattress which conforms to a body profile by having flexible air-tight chambers which are interconnected to allow the transfer of air or fluid between two such chambers to facilitate body contour accommodation. The volume of air or fluid may be adjusted in each of the individual and interconnected chambers to allow comfortable resistance and conformity to a wide range of body lengths, weights and shapes. 
   The following additional U.S. patents are of known prior art and are somewhat more remotely connected to the present invention:
         U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,573 to Fiore   U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,226 to Groenewald   U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,153 to Roschacher   U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,963 to Trevino, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,535 to Goldman   U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,492 to Simon   U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,542 to Farley   U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,015 to Allen   U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,722 to Giori, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,865 to Washburn, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,903 to Wai-Chung   U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,061 to Giori, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,178 to Montoni   U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,239 to Ward, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,241 to Higgins, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,768 to Harding   U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,278 to Spann, et al.   U.S. Pat. Des. 433861 to Rose, et al.       

   The present invention provides a mattress pad positionable atop a conventional mattress which includes individualized chambers defined by interstitching between top and bottom covers and which are filled with loose fibrous material such that the recumbent person may easily move the fibrous material within each of the chambers supporting the head, upper torso, legs and feet into better conformity with the individualized contours of each recumbent user of this invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a mattress pad positionable atop a rectangular mattress for accommodation of the diverse weight and sizes of the human anatomy for enhanced comfort. The mattress pad includes a flexible bottom sheet having a size and shape substantially similar to that of a top surface of the mattress. A flexible fabric top sheet is connected to the bottom sheet by peripheral stitching along common perimeter side, head and foot margins. A plurality of generally side-by-side body supporting members are each defined by peripheral stitching and spaced lines of continuous stitching which interconnect said top and bottom sheets. Each body supporting member is filled with a loose stuffing of fibrous or synthetic material which is movable and capable of localized accumulation within the body supporting member by manual body or hand pressure against the top sheet. Preselected thicknesses of each of the body support members provides the comfort and accommodation to each of the portions of the human anatomy. 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mattress pad which is positionable atop a conventional mattress which will greatly enhance the comfort and accommodation to individualized body sizes, shapes and weights of each person on an individual basis. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a mattress pad having chambers filled with loose stuffing material which may be manually moved within each chamber to further enhance the comfort level of a person lying recumbent thereupon. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mattress pad positionable atop a rectangular mattress which will accommodate two persons lying side-by-side thereatop. 
   Another object of this invention is to satisfy the above objects in the form of an originally manufactured mattress. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan simplified schematic view of one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan simplified schematic view of another embodiment of the invention similar to that of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation simplified schematic view of the invention of  FIG. 1  showing a recumbent person lying face up. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing the person lying on his side. 
       FIG. 5  is a section view in the direction of arrows  5 — 5  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a section view in the direction of arrows  6 — 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged section view of area  7  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged section view of area  8  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan schematic view of another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan simplified schematic view of still another embodiment of the invention structured to individually accommodate two side-by-side recumbent persons. 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of  FIG. 10  absent the recumbent persons previously shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 12  is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of the invention for use by two recumbent persons. 
       FIGS. 13 to 28  are top plan simplified schematic views of additional alternate embodiments of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 3  to  8 , one embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10  and  10 ′ in  FIG. 2  and includes a flexible, substantially rectangular fabric top sheet  12  and a flexible bottom sheet  14  which are stitched together along common head, foot and side margins shown generally at numeral  46  and as detailed in  FIG. 7 . Material selection in forming the top and bottom sheets includes flexible sheet cotton, wool, linen, plastic, latex and all other organic or synthetic flexible sheet materials. Within the rectangular perimeter borders  46  of this mattress pad  10  are formed a plurality of spaced lines of continuous intermediate stitching referred to generally at  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34 . In this embodiment  10 , these stitching lines are straight for manufacturing convenience. 
   Intermediate stitch line  26  has a generally transverse central component and downwardly descending diagonal components which define a first chamber  16  between the head peripheral margin  46   h  and intermediate stitching line  26 . A second chamber  18  is defined between the first stitching line  26  and the second stitching line segments  28  and  30 . Chamber  18  is positioned to support the upper torso of a person recumbent upon the mattress pad  10  having diagonally extending portions to also support the arms in a partially extended position as shown. Chamber  20  is formed centrally of the mattress pad  10  to support the lower torso between stitching lines  30  and  32 . The central legs are supported on chamber  22  which is formed between stitching lines  28 ,  32 , and  34  while the foot support chamber  24  is formed between the stitching lines  34  and the foot peripheral margin  46   f.    
   As best seen in  FIGS. 3 to 8 , each of the support chambers  16 ,  18 ,  22  and  24  are filled with a compressible or loose fibrous or synthetic stuffing material which may include cotton, polyester foam, memory foam, viscoelastic foam, fiber, buckwheat, KAPOK, down, and mixtures thereof and in different chambers. The top sheet  12  or  12 ′ in  FIG. 2  is sized to accommodate the selected amounts of stuffing material as described herebelow. 
   In chamber  16 , which supports the head and neck area of a person recumbent upon the mattress pad  10 , a greater height A of stuffing material is preferred to fill this first chamber  16 . The second chamber  18  is filled with a slightly lesser amount of stuffing material at B while the third chamber  20  is filled with a still lesser quantity or height of the stuffing material at C. The leg support chamber  22  is filled with a slightly greater amount of stuffing material at D while the foot support chamber  24  is filled with a lesser amount of the fibrous or synthetic material at E. 
   Seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , showing the mattress pad  10  deployed atop a conventional mattress, the recumbent person in a face up position will receive very natural body positioning and alignment, receiving a proper support from each of the chambers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 . Alternately, when recumbent on the side of the person, each of these chambers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  will be transformed simply by body weight and manual pressure either exerted by hand or body movement to reshape themselves as seen typically in  FIG. 7 , by applying body weight or manual force in the direction of arrow G, causing the stuffing material to move laterally beneath the top sheet  12  so as to provide a virtually totally uniform support of each of the body and torso portions for maximum comfort. 
   As seen in  FIG. 2 , the top sheet  12 ′ also includes elongated openings  26 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  which are closed preferably by mating two part VELCRO strips or simply by overlapping seams which allow the further customization of each of the chambers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  by either the addition of or removal of stuffing material therethrough after which the openings are then resecured in the closed position for use. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it is noted that the height selections, A, B, C, D and E of each of the chambers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 , respectively, in combination with the configuration of each of these chambers as defined by the intermediate lines of stitching through the top and bottom sheets previously described create a very compliant series of support chambers both longitudinally as shown in  FIG. 5  and laterally as shown in  FIG. 6  again to achieve an optimal comfort and body support for the recumbent person lying thereupon. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , this alternate embodiment  50  includes a flexible fabric top sheet  52  of flexible fabric material substantially similar to that described with respect to the mattress pad  10 . The chambers  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  which are formed by intermediate lines of stitching,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70  and  72 , along with the perimeter margin  74  which is formed by the stitched together periphery between the top sheet  62  and the flexible bottom sheet (not shown). Likewise, the substantially same thicknesses, A, B, C, D and E of each of the chambers  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  and  62  are provided. By forming the intermediate lines of stitching  64 ,  66 ,  70  and  72  in an arcuate configuration rather than as straight lines in the embodiment  10 , the bunching or wadding of the loose fibrous stuffing material is reduced as it is moved about within each of the chambers for maximum comfort in the recumbent position. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a queen or king-size embodiment is there shown generally at numeral  80  to accommodate two recumbent persons in side-by-side fashion in a conventional double bed arrangement. In this embodiment  80 , two separate chamber supported areas  84  and  86  are provided as defined by a longitudinally extending stitch line  102  which is positioned centrally between the periphery side margins of the mattress pad  80 . 
   Again, in this embodiment  80 , a head chamber  88 , a shoulder chamber  90 , a mid-torso chamber  92 , a lower torso chamber  94 , an upper leg chamber  96 , a lower leg chamber  98 , and a foot chamber  100  are provided by parallel transverse intermediate stitching lines shown typically at  104 . 
   The height of the loose or compressible stuffing material filling each of these chambers,  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 , and  100  is the same as referenced in  FIG. 1  wherein height A is the thickest of the stuffing material to support the head and neck. Chambers  90  and  92  are separated by a line of transverse stitching to support the upper torso having stuffing material thickness B′ and B″ which are generally similar or identical to the stuffing thickness B in  FIG. 1 ; however, the intermediate stitching line between chambers  90  and  92  serves to prevent excess migration of the stuffing material but are otherwise intended to provide the same upper torso support in combination as that of stuffing material thickness B in  FIG. 1 . Likewise, stuffing thicknesses C′ and C″ are substantially equal to one another and to stuffing thickness C in  FIG. 1  but separated by another transverse intermediate line of stitching for preventing excess migration of loose stuffing material within these two chambers  94  and  96 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , another two person embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  110 , again as with all embodiments, having a rectangular length and width substantially similar to that of a mattress atop which this embodiment  110  will be disposed for supporting a recumbent person. Two separate body support areas  114  and  116  are provided, separated or defined by a central longitudinal stitching line  128 . Each of the diamond shaped chambers  118 ,  120   a ,  120   b ,  122 ,  124   a ,  124   b  and  126  are formed by diagonal intermediate lines of stitching shown typically at  129 . Note that each half of chamber  120   a , in combination with chamber  120   b  form the support for the lower torso which would generally be equivalent to chamber  20  in  FIG. 1  having a stuffing filled height of C. Note further that the head and upper torso are supported by chambers  118  having a stuffing fill height equivalent to an average of A and B as previously described wherein the person lying recumbent upon the device  110  may simply manually move sufficient loose stuffing within each of these chambers  118  to better support the head and neck area. 
   The embodiment  130  shown in  FIG. 13  includes a flexible fabric top sheet  132  having intermediate stitching shown typically at  144  passing through both the top sheet  132  and the bottom sheet (not shown) as previously described. This embodiment  130  includes a head support chamber  134  having components  134   a ,  134   b  and  134   c , chamber  134   a  being of sufficient length and centrally positioned to support both the head, neck and upper shoulders area of a recumbent person. Narrower chamber  136  and its individual chamber components  136   a ,  136   b  and  136   c , serve to support the center torso and arms of the user, while chamber  138  having central and side component chambers  134   a  and  134   b  and  134   c , respectively, support the lower torso and upper leg area of the person. Central chamber  140   a  of chamber  140  supports the lower leg area, and finally central chamber  142   a  of chamber  142  supports the feet of the user. Chambers  140   b  and  140   c  and  142   b  and  142   c  serve to primarily control excess loose filler stuffing material migration. 
   In  FIG. 14 , another embodiment is shown at  150  including a flexible top sheet of flexible fabric material  152  and intermediate stitching lines shown typically at  162  to define support chambers  154 ,  156 ,  158  and  160 . The central portions  154   a ,  156   a ,  158   a  and  160   a  are the primary body support chambers while the side chambers  154   b ,  154   c ,  156   b ,  156   c ,  158   b ,  158   c  and  160   b  and  160   c  serve to prevent stuffing shifting or migration and to create the side heightened chambers described in  FIG. 6  generally. 
   In  FIG. 15 , another embodiment  170  includes a flexible fabric top sheet  172  generally as previously described sewn by peripheral stitching to a bottom sheet (not shown) along common head, foot and side margins. Separate central body support chambers  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  and  182  are formed by straight intermediate lines of stitching shown typically at  184  which interconnect the top sheet  172  and bottom sheet (not shown) of this embodiment  170 . The level of loose fill stuffing material packed into each of these chambers is as previously described with respect to the nominal height achieved thereby. 
   The embodiment  190  in  FIG. 16  represents another variation similar to that shown in  FIG. 15  wherein intermediate straight stitching lines shown typically at  204  passing through the flexible fabric top sheet  192  and bottom sheet (not shown) create the trapezoidal shaped central chambers  194 ,  196 ,  198 ,  200  and  202  which are stuffed to the level of loose fill previously described to support the respective body portions of a recumbent person. 
   In  FIG. 17 , an embodiment  210 , again having a cover sheet  212  formed of flexible fabric material sewn along the mating peripheral edge to the flexible bottom sheet (not shown), is provided to have increasing widths of the chambers  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224  and  226  defined by intermediate stitching lines shown generally at  228  sewn through the top sheet  212  and bottom sheet (not shown). The descending increasing width of these loose fibrous stuffing material-filled chambers  214  to  226  accommodates the more typical movement of spread legs and torso movement as opposed to a central positioning of the head and neck area of a recumbent person during sleep time. The intermediate lines of stitching  228  are arcuate to enhance loose stuffing material movement within each of the chambers and to help prevent pocketing of stuffing in the corners of each chamber created by linear stitching. 
   The embodiment  240  in  FIG. 18  again includes a flexible top sheet  242  and intermediate arcuately formed lines of stitching shown typically at  250 . This embodiment  240  includes elongated chambers: chamber  244  for supporting the head and neck area; chamber  246  for supporting the entire torso area; and chamber  248  for supporting the leg and foot portions of a recumbent person. The central elongated chamber  246  would have a lesser amount of loose fiber stuffing and having a lower height than the head chamber  244  and the leg/foot chamber  248 . The side chambers (not numbered) have a higher fill similar to that generally shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
   Embodiment  260  shown in  FIG. 19  includes intermediate stitching lines  276  through the flexible top sheet  262  and bottom sheet (not shown) which are arcuate and recurved lengthwise of the mattress pad  260  defining central chambers  264   a  of chamber  264 , chamber  266   a  of chamber  266 , chamber  268   a  of chamber  268 , chamber  270   a  of chamber  270 , chamber  272   a  of chamber  272  and chamber  274   a  of chamber  274 . The enlarged chambers  266   a  and  268   a  provide for additional uniform support for torso movement during sleep time, the side chambers  264   b ,  264   c ,  264   d , and  264   e  through side chambers  274   b ,  274   c ,  274   d , and  274   e  provide increasing height of loose stuffing material and overall chamber height similar to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , to keep the recumbent person more centered on the bed during sleep time. 
   In  FIG. 20 , the embodiment  280  there shown includes the previously described flexible top sheet  282  which is sewn to the bottom sheet (not shown) through double recurve arcuate stitching lines shown typically at  296 . The central chambers  284   a ,  286   a ,  288   a ,  290   a ,  292   a , and  294   a  are filled to a height generally described in  FIGS. 3 to 5  as are all of the embodiments of the invention. The double recurved arcuately configured stitching lines  296  provide a narrower lower torso support chamber  288   a  which is based upon substantially greater movement of arms and legs and the associated chambers  286  and  290 . Side chambers  274   b  and  274   c  through  294   b  and  294   c  serve to create heightened edge portions as described in  FIGS. 6 and 8  while the stuffing height of the descending central chambers from  284   a  to  294   a  are as generally described with respect to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
   In  FIG. 21 , another embodiment is there shown generally at numeral  300  having a flexible fabric top sheet  302  connected to the bottom sheet (not shown) by transverse straight lines of stitching  318  and arcuate stitching lines  316  therethrough which create substantially circular central chambers  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  and  312 . This circular chamber configuration provides unique opportunities for limited loose fill movement and for specialized body support accommodation which, as in all embodiments, is effected by manual pressure or manipulation of the person using the mattress pad  300 . Side chambers shown typically  302  and  314  are generally transverse in nature and are of greater height than the corresponding central chamber as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
   Embodiment  320  in  FIG. 22  includes the flexible fabric top sheet  322  sewn along the peripheral margins to the bottom sheet (not shown) and also sewn together along double recurve arcuate lines of stitching shown typically at  336 . Central support chambers  322 ,  324 ,  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332  and  334  in head to foot descending order as previously described are fiber filled and generally of a height of descending and ascending levels as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
   Briefly in  FIGS. 23 to 26 , embodiments  340 ,  360 ,  380  and  400  include the rectangular chambers  348  and  368  forming central and outer columns  344  and  364  and rows  346  and  366  of these rectangular chambers  348  and  368 . Likewise, columns  384  and  404  of diagonal chambers are shown typically at  388  and  408 , respectively, extend across rows  386  and  406 , respectively, with truncated diamond-shaped chambers  390  and  410 , respectively, supporting the head and neck area of the recumbent user. 
   In  FIG. 27 , this embodiment  420 , including flexible fabric top sheet  422  is sewn to the bottom sheet (not shown) by intermediate stitching lines to form a central body supporting column  424  of octagonal central body supporting chambers. Two columns  426  and  428  of side chambers and intermediate diamond shaped chambers  430 , each of which is again filled with loose fibrous stuffing material as previously described, are also provided. 
   Lastly in  FIG. 28 , embodiment  440  includes central and side rows  444  and  446 / 448  of rectangular and trapezoidal shaped chambers  450  and  452  which are defined by intermediate lines of stitching formed through the top sheet  442  and bottom sheet (now shown). 
   While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.