Abstract:
A bedding system designed to provide air to an end user an air supply of filtered air; a platform having a plurality of air holes; and a mattress with a plurality of air holes to permit the flow of air to the end user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit to provisional application 60/751,088, filed on Dec. 16, 2005, entitled “Sleep System with Purified Air and Latex Foam Mattress”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to the field of sleep systems. In particular, the present invention incorporates purified air with the comfort of a natural latex foam mattress.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Issues involving sleep depravation have recently come into the public&#39;s awareness. Recent studies by the American Medical Association have shown sleep deprivation is a major cause of a wide range of illnesses including heart disease and hypertension. One particular problem is that people often do not breathe properly when sleeping and do not breathe fresh air, particularly when they are face down or lying sideways in the bed. When the body heat elevates, the heartrate starts to elevate to sweat. A cooler area is preferable.  
         [0004]     A number of patents have issued in the area of systems for improving sleeping or for providing improved mattresses. U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,340 discloses a mattress core made from foamed material, latex, or plastic being provided with a series of hollow spaces running perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. According to the invention, it is provided that coil springs are positioned in a lying fashion in the hollow spaces running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the foam core. Preferably, the coil springs are produced from a tape material and a fibrous composition material and foamed in.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,648 discloses an anatomical mattress comprising at least two layers of elastic material each having a main surface. The elastic layers are joined along the main surfaces thereof to define a generally parallelepiped-shaped body. The body has a peripheral frame and two opposite surfaces. At least a portion of one of the opposite surfaces of the body has semispherical-shaped elements extending outwardly therefrom and defining a lying plane of the mattress. At least two transverse reinforcing and stiffening bands are disposed in the body at positions corresponding generally with the shoulders and feet, respectively, of a user.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,433 discloses a pressure adjustable foam support apparatus includes a resilient, air pressure adjustable, self-inflating foam core. A flexible, airtight cover encloses the core. One or more air passageways are formed through the covering in pneumatic communication with the foam core. Each passageway carries a valve for alternately permitting and blocking passage into and out of the core through the passageway. The valve is opened to exhaust air from and at least partially collapse the core and to allow a core that is at least partially collapsed to draw in air through the passageway and expand. The valve is closed to maintain a selected air pressure within the core whereby corresponding levels of density and firmness (IFD) are exhibited by the core. At least one level of density and firmness provides the core with a viscoelastic or latex foam feel hence greatly reducing pressure points and increasing comfort. A pressure adjustable foam support apparatus that can be made into a mattress, sofa bed, hospital mattress, futon mattress, couch, chaise lounge cushion, mattress topper and other furniture.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,551 discloses a mattress unit for retarding the development of decubitus ulcers includes a fabric cover having therein a foam material, and includes an inflatable bladder and a control unit disposed within openings in the foam material. The inflatable bladder contains a foam material having spaced holes in it. The control unit includes a pump which can selectively supply pressurized air to the bladder, a valve which can selectively bleed air from the bladder, and a pressure sensor which can determine the current pressure in the bladder. The pressure sensor is coupled to an input of a control circuit which controls the pump and valve. The control circuit receives power from an AC/DC converter and is remotely controlled by a hand-held pendant, the converter and pendant each being physically separate from the mattress unit and being connected to the control circuit by respective cables.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Application No. 2002148045 discloses a pressure adjustable foam support apparatus includes a resilient, air pressure adjustable, self-inflating foam core. A flexible, airtight cover encloses the core. One or more air passageways are formed through the covering in pneumatic communication with the foam core. Each passageway carries a valve for alternately permitting and blocking passage into and out of the core through the passageway. The valve is opened to exhaust air from and at least partially collapse the core and to allow a core that is at least partially collapsed to draw in air through the passageway and expand. The valve is closed to maintain a selected air pressure within the core whereby corresponding levels of density and firmness (IFD) are exhibited by the core. At least one level of density and firmness provides the core with a viscoelastic or latex foam feel hence greatly reducing pressure points and increasing comfort. A pressure adjustable foam support apparatus that can be made into a mattress, sofa bed, hospital mattress, futon mattress, couch, chaise lounge cushion, mattress topper and other furniture.  
         [0009]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20020015817 discloses a quilted pad is made by chopping post-industrial scrap foam into particles and blowing the chopped particles into an air cyclone. The cyclone separates the particles from the air stream and feeds them into a foam layout machine. The chopped foam particles are deposited across a fabric bottom carrier sheet in a uniform layer. A multi-needle quilting machine lays a top fabric sheet across the foam layer, and then quilts a geometric pattern of pockets which separate and secure the foam particles. The foam particle sheet is then cut into panels and the panel edges are finished, creating a low cost but highly functional and attractive pad that can be used as a cushioning pad internal to a conventional bed mattress, as padding in the manufacture of futons, or as a low cost mattresses for camping, for use in emergency and homeless shelters.  
         [0010]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20050005364 discloses a stiffening system for the perimeter edges of a foam core mattress comprising a coil spring (or other spring-based) structure disposed along one or more perimeter edges (e.g., one or both side edges, the foot, the head, or a combinations thereof including the foot and both side edges) of a mattress having a foam sleeping area. The perimeter spring structure is rectangular or square in cross-section and provides sufficient stiffness for comfortable seating on the edges of the mattress and is joined to the foam core by planar fabric elements that span the joint between them and are attached to both. The sleep area provides the softness and other salutary effects of a foam sleeping surface while the stiffer spring perimeter element provides the rigidity need for comfortable seating and wear resistance.  
         [0011]     U.S. Patent Application 20040231057 discloses a mattress comprises a support plate having a plurality of mounting holes, a plurality of independent spring assemblies individually mounted to the support plate, and a cover enclosing the support plate and the plurality of spring assemblies. Each of the spring assemblies includes a tubular mounting member fixed to the support plate preferably by snap-fit through a mounting hole in the support plate, a sliding cap axially movable relative to the mounting member, and a spring acting between the mounting member and the sliding cap, wherein the spring is axially compressible when the sliding cap is forced in an axial direction toward the support plate. A spacer of chosen length can be provided to set preload on the spring. In a “flippable” embodiment, the mounting member includes a mid-portion snap-fitted to the support plate and upper and lower portions each having a sliding cap associated therewith, wherein the spring acts between the two sliding caps. In yet another embodiment, the sliding cap is replaced by a bellows attached to the mounting member.  
         [0012]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20040049856 discloses an air mattress includes top sheet and bottom sheet which are disposed to be opposing. The mattress has a side sheet coupled to the top and bottom sheets. The mattress has plural threads coupled to the top and bottom sheets so that they are spaced each other with a certain distance when the air is inflated. The mattress has a foamed body filled in the inside of the mattress so that the foamed body is penetrated by the threads.  
         [0013]     U.S. Patent Application 20030150060 discloses a mattress assembly comprising a covering, a mattress, and a bed base. The covering includes a cloth covering with a zipper to allow easy opening/closing of the cloth covering. The mattress and the bed base are covered by the cloth covering. The mattress includes a plurality of vents communicated between the covering and the bed base. The bed base includes a plurality of grooves in an upper side thereof. When liquid permeates the covering, it passes through the vents and then accumulates in the grooves. The mattress assembly further includes an air supply device comprising a plurality of air supply tubes and a plurality of ventilating tubes extending in the grooves of the bed base. Air feeding from the air supply tubes flows through the grooves of the bed base via the ventilating tubes and then exit the vents of the mattress for circulation.  
         [0014]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20020124320 discloses a bed and mattress structure includes an articulating frame having longitudinally spaced head, seat, thigh, and foot sections. The head, thigh and foot sections are movable relative to each other and relative to the seat section. A deck on the frame supports a user. A mattress is interposed between the deck and the user. The mattress includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending air bladders corresponding respectively to the frame sections. A power driver tilts the frame sections to desired tilted positions. An air supply fills each bladder to desired air pressures to support the user. A drive controller controls the power drive for tilting the frame sections to various desired positions. An air supply controller controls the air supply for filling the air bladders to desired air pressures. A hand held controller includes a key pad cooperating with a programmable device to provide signals through a cord in response to inputs from the user. The key pad includes memory set buttons providing the signals when the buttons are activated by the user. The controller controls the power drive and the air supply in response to the signals. The memory set buttons are arranged in order of the frequency of use. A display is mounted on the substrate and selectively indicates the positions of the sections of the articulating frame and the pressures of the air bladders.  
         [0015]     U.S. Patent Application 20040172766 discloses a mattress made of latex embodying a plurality of coil springs is provided. Each spring is enclosed in a fabric sack and is impermeable to the latex foam, for creating into the mattress a plurality of resilient units independent and separated with one another and each drowned in the molded latex foam. The single resilient units are free elements and can be inserted into the mattress also in specific zones corresponding to specific parts of human body and the load bearing capacity of sacked springs (form, dimensions, coil number, wire diameter, material, etc.) shall depend on the weight of human body portion that said zones are foreseen to bear. The mattress assures an adequate bearing for each person&#39;s part laid in rest position, as it shall be adapted perfectly to the human body (ergonomic mattress). For satisfying this condition, the mattress can also have in its inside, in combination with resilient-units, some channels or aligned channel couples, with the aim of changing locally its density and further of assuring its aeration.  
         [0016]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20040133987 discloses a mattress that provides a user with three-dimensional firmness zoning, the mattress cooperating with a mattress shell. The mattress includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending resilient blocks being independently movable relative to one another, an inflatable bladder positioned to lie upon the top side of at least one of the blocks, and a topper positioned to lie upon the inflatable bladder, the topper including opposite ends configured for attachment to the shell.  
         [0017]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20040106347 discloses a flame retardant (FR) nonwoven fabric useful in household goods and particularly for mattresses. The nonwoven fabric comprises at least one of FR rayon fiber, FR acrylic fiber, FR melamine fiber, FR polyester fiber, FR polyolefin fiber, or FR resin coated fiber and optionally synthetic and/or natural fiber mechanically bound together by a needlepunch process. From this nonwoven fabric, many household goods such as drapes, curtains, rugs, bedding and particularly mattresses may be constructed. The present invention also contemplates a mattress constructed from the nonwoven fabric comprising FR rayon fiber, FR acrylic fiber, FR melamine fiber, FR polyester fiber, FR polyolefin fiber, or FR resin coated fiber. The mattress from this construction passes the California Test Bulletin 603 stringent conditions for mattresses used in residential places. Preferably the nonwoven fabric has a batt weight of at least 2.25 oz./sq. yd. and preferably between 2.25 oz./sq. yd. and 20 oz./sq. yd.  
         [0018]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20040049856 discloses an air mattress including top sheet and bottom sheet which are disposed to be opposing. The mattress has a side sheet coupled to the top and bottom sheets. The mattress has plural threads coupled to the top and bottom sheets so that they are spaced each other with a certain distance when the air is inflated. The mattress has a foamed body filled in the inside of the mattress so that the foamed body is penetrated by the threads.  
         [0019]     U.S. Patent Application No. 20030101517 discloses an elastic body having a good elasticity and an impact absorbing efficiency, a method of manufacturing the same and a mattress employing the same. The elastic body is a foamed polyurethane body including polystyrene and has a plurality of foams in which air is contained. The elastic body is prepared by a method comprising the steps of preparing polyether polyol by mixing poly alcohol and a polyether compound in a mixing ratio of 3-5 to 5-7 by weight, obtaining a polyol mixture by adding 2-20 parts by weight of polystyrene and a trace amount of a catalyst and water to 30-50 parts by weight of the obtained polyether polyol, adding and stirring 20-60 parts by weight of an isocyanate compound to 40-80 parts by weight of the polyol mixture at 20-80.degree. C., and pouring the resulting product into a mold to foam cast. A mattress manufactured by using such elastic bodies has a good elasticity and is capable of absorbing pressure, thereby providing comfort for users.  
         [0020]     U.S. Patent Application 20020162173 discloses a new construction system for mattress made of latex including sacked springs, that allows an assembly without glueings or fastenings of mechanical type and allows to supply different bearing surfaces for the human body with different support densities, suitable for the different zones of human body in the rest position and related manufacturing method.  
         [0021]     While there have been a wide variety of mattress systems, none have been directed to a system which circulates fresh or filtered air through the mattress. Such a system would provide numerous benefits over prior art systems.  
         [0022]     It is an object of the invention to provide a mattress which facilitates the flow of purified air.  
         [0023]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system in which air can be fed to provide a cool sleeping environment.  
         [0024]     These and other objects of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The present invention comprises a bedding system designed to provide purified air to an end user; a base for supporting the system; a supply of filtered air; a platform on the top of the base and having a plurality of air holes; and a mattress with a plurality of air holes to permit the flow of air from the air supply to the end user.  
         [0026]     A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a bedding system designed to provide purified air to the end user; a base for supporting the system; powered supply of filtered air; a platform on the base, the platform comprising a first and second major surface separated by sidewalls and defining an air space; the first major surface having access ports for receiving filtered air; the second surface having a plurality of spaced air holes; and a latex mattress on the second major surface having a plurality of air holes to permit the flow of air to the end user from the powered supply of air and through the platform.  
         [0027]     Yet a further embodiment of the present invention comprises a bedding system designed to provide purified air to the end user; a base for supporting the system; a powered supply of HEPA filtered air; a platform placed on the base, the platform comprising a first and second major surface separated by sidewalls so as to create an air pocket; the first major surface having access ports for receiving filtered air through a plurality of hoses; the second major surface having a plurality of spaced air holes; and a latex mattress placed on the second major surface and having a plurality of air holes extending there through to permit the flow of air to the end user from the power supply of air and hoses through the platform. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the mattress.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an overhead view of the support pad of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     The invention is directed towards a sleep system that incorporates purified air with the comfort of natural latex foam. Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention is described. The present invention is broadly directed to a mattress system in which purified air is pumped into a mattress.  
         [0032]     The invention  10  comprises a number of base components. The system initially comprises a base  12  for supporting the mattress system in a horizontal position. The base encases an air purification device  14 . The device may include a pump and filter, including a HEPA filter. Air filtration systems of this type are well known in the art. The filtration pump is connected to a plurality of hoses  16 . The hoses  16  then connect to the underside of a platform  20 .  
         [0033]     The platform  20  is rectangular in shape and has a bottom rectangular surface  22 , side walls  23  and a top rectangular surface  24 . The sidewalls create an air packet between the first and second surfaces. The bottom rectangular surface is solid except for four access ports  26 . The ports are attached to the hoses  16  from the pump  12 .  
         [0034]     The top rectangular surface has a plurality of small air holes  18 . The air space created by the side walls may be further divided into sectors  30   a - 30   d , in which each sector is associated with an access port  20 .  
         [0035]     In a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   a , the hose  16  enters the platform through the end of the platform.  
         [0036]     The mattress  18  is preferably constructed from hypoallergenic all natural latex foam. The foam may be poured into a mold creating approximately ⅜ th  inch size holes over the entire surface of the mattress and through the top and bottom.  
         [0037]     The mattress  12  lies on top of the platform. The latex mattress has holes to allow air to pass from the platform  20  through the mattress and on to the end user. The platform contains four separate chambers  12  and each chamber connects to a plastic hose  14 . The hoses  14  connect to an air purification system  14  that cleans and filters the air and sends it through the holes in the bed generating breeze of cool, purified air. The cool air assists in maintaining a cool temperature for the sleeper.  
         [0038]     An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1   b ,  4  and  5 . In  FIG. 1   b , air holes enter at two ends of the platform, instead of through the bottom.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate yet another embodiment. Here, the air hoses attach to openings  24  at one end of the platform  20 . The air passes through a plurality of holes onto the mattress. The lower portion of the purification unit  14  sucks in dry air and purified, filtered air leaves the hoses  16 .  
         [0039]     All cool filtered embodiments of the invention provide air which keeps the sleeper cool and thus reduces the heart rate of the sleeper.  
         [0040]     The present invention has been described with reference to the above discussed preferred embodiment. The true nature and scope of the invention is to be determined with reference to the claims attached hereto.