Patent Publication Number: US-2022211185-A1

Title: Mattress securing apparatus and method of using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to retaining devices and, more particularly, a mattress securing apparatus and method of using the same. 
     The problem with a mattress sliding, moving, or shifting once placed on its foundation has likely been an annoyance since the inception of the mattress and foundation. Fastening devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of retaining a mattress on its foundation are known to consist of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations. Such devices include the application of pins, clips, clamps and/or elastic bands, and devices that rely upon hook-and-loop fasteners and the like. None of these approaches have proven entirely satisfactory, in that they do not provide sufficient securement, they are too costly to produce, they require complete removal of the mattress or otherwise demand a significant amount of manual labor (sometimes requiring two or more people) to install, and/or they are visible and aesthetically unpleasing during use. 
     Mattresses are heavy and bulky, and most mattress securing systems, devices and devices require removal of the mattress for the system to be installed. Yet, none have been proven entirely satisfactory as they do not sufficiently secure the mattress. Additionally, linens and bedsheets can unintentionally snag on portions of current solutions. Moreover, some mattress securing methods utilize large sheets that can fold and bind and create a lumpy feeling through the mattress, and which are prone to tearing during the readjust process. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a uniquely structured mattress securing apparatus and method of using the same so that no pins, no clamps, no teeth, no clips, no elastic bands, and no hook-and-loop fasteners are needed. Furthermore, the present invention does not require removal of the mattress to apply nor utilization of sheets of flexible material that can fold, bind or otherwise diminish the comfort and enjoyability of the mattress being secured. 
     The present invention can be readjusted to any position without removal of the mattress and can be easily applied by one person with minimal pressure. The apparatus of the present invention enables a semi-permanent bond with the mattress but can be repositioned by peeling the apparatus off the underlying foundation before placing in a new desired location, lending itself to the following advantages: the present invention is quiet (no crinkling or no popping sound), provides superior holding power, is not limited to one specific place but rather can be applied anywhere on the surface of the foundation. Furthermore, the foundation is not limited to a specific style — i.e., the foundation can be wood, foam, coil, as well as power base, platform bed, or hospital bed. 
     The apparatus provides an aperture circumscribed by a peripheral cut surface. The gravitational pressing of the mattress into the aperture and against the peripheral cuts increases the frictional connection between the apparatus and the mattress and foundation. Moreover, the aperture enables a vacuum effect and drag through creating a valley for the mattress surface to nest into, acting almost as a key in lock, wherein the mattress surface presses into the keyhole and locks it into place. In other words, the aperture creates a crevasse that the upholstery from the bottom of the mattress can anchor into, creating a flexible bond and adding drag to the mattress. As a result, the application of this frictional connection causes the foundation to adhere more strongly to the mattress thereby providing greater resistance against the tendency of the mattress to slide or move relative to the foundation. Finally, the present invention is not visible during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a mattress securement device providing the following: a substrate that is planar and dimensioned to have one or more apertures through the substrate; a periphery of the substrate having multi- directional facets; an adhesive disposed along one of two planar surfaces of the substrate; a peel-away layer along the adhesive, wherein the periphery comprises at least two or three facets per linear inch (e.g.,  41 ,  42 , and  43  in  FIG. 3 ), wherein each of the at least two or three facets extend between opposing planar surfaces of the substrate. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, method of preventing a mattress from sliding relative to a foundation that supports the mattress, the method includes the following: lifting a portion of the mattress from an upper surface of the foundation; placing a mattress securement device disclosed above in such a way that the adhesive adheres to the upper surface of the foundation; and laying the portion of the mattress onto said mattress securement device. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mattress securement device having a generally planar substrate sufficient to have one or more aperture that is circumscribed by peripheral multi-directional edges of the planar substrate. An adhesive along one side of the planar substrate enables the mattress securement device to be releasably adhered to a foundation on which a mattress is supported. The weight of the mattress urges a portion thereof into the one or more apertures and against the multi-directional edges, both of which resist the mattress moving or sliding relative to the foundation. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the present invention may include a mattress securement device  10 . The mattress securement device  10  provides one or more apertures  12   a  circumscribed by peripheral multi-directional edges  30 . In certain embodiments, the mattress securement device  10  may include a first substrate  12  and an adhesive layer  14 . Though in other embodiments, the adhesive layer  14  could be a coating or other application of adhesive on an otherwise unitary mattress securement device  10 . The first substrate  12  is generally planar with the adhesive layer  14  along one of the planar surfaces. The adhesive layer  14  may be double-sided adhesive. 
     The first substrate  12  may be made of flexible substance constructed of polyurethane foam, rubber compound, open cell foam, and the like. The peripheral cut edges  30  may be multi-directional cuts to the outer perimeter of the substrate  12  and layers  14  and  16 . 
     The apertures  12   a ,  15 , and  17  may be centrally disposed but not necessarily round in shape. The surface area of each aperture  12   a  may range from ⅛ of an inch to four inches. The thickness of the first substrate  12  may range from one-sixteenth to one-half of an inch. In one embodiment, the first substrate  12  may be a sheet of polyurethane attached to the adhesive layer  14  and attached to the peel-away layer  16 , and then cut and to the particular design shape or size. The mattress securement device  10  may be generally rectangular in shape, though any geometric shape may be used that facilitates the functionality disclosed herein. 
     The mattress securement device  10  may be positioned between the mattress  20  and foundation  22 , which may be a box springs or the like as mentioned above. The material type and the peripheral multi-directional edges  30  are both adapted and dimensioned to frictionally engage the bottom surface of the mattress  20  and the top surface  22   a  of the foundation  22 , thereby resisting movement. The first substrate  12  may be constructed of a ¼ -inch polyurethane foam however again, other sizes and “gripping” material are possible. In one embodiment, the adhesive layer  14  is preferably a double-sided adhesive that defines a first side  14   a  that is non-releasable attached to the first substrate  12 , and a second side  14   b  that initially engages the peel-away layer  16 , that in application may be releasably attached to either the foundation  22  or the mattress  20 . 
     The method of operation for the preferred embodiment includes adhesively attaching the second side  14   b  to the top surface  22   a  of the foundation  22  such that the mattress securement device  10  is positioned under the mattress  20 . The mattress  20  is then placed in its normal position on the mattress securement device  10 . Once the mattress  20  is positioned on top of the foundation  22 , the lower surface  20   a  of the mattress  20  will be urged by gravity into the at least one aperture  12   a . This urging of the mattress  20  into the at least one aperture  12   a  increases the frictional connection between the mattress securement device  10  and mattress  20  and foundation  22 . As a result, the application of this frictional connection causes the foundation  22  to adhere more strongly in place beneath the mattress  20 , thereby providing greater resistance against the tendency of the mattress to move or slide relative to the foundation  22 . 
     The polyurethane foam, or rubber, or similar open cell foam flat substance may be permanently laminated to the double-sided adhesive to create permeability. 
     This may be done by a commercial manufacturer to form a “sheet” that is approximately ¼″ in thickness. Once the first substrate  12  is fabricated and laminated to the adhesive layer  14  and backing  16  it may be cut into the right size and shape as designed. One could accomplish the cutting of the multi-directional edges  30  with scissors or a shape knife and carefully cutting the design. However, the optimum cut may be made with a commercial die cutting machine usually a hydraulic cutting press, computer numeric control (CNC) cutting machine or water jet cutting machine. The shape and exact size of the gripper may vary by the need of the surfaces to which they are applied. 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. The mattress securement device  10  disclosed above may be provided. When a user opens the package of the pre-cut mattress securement device  10  they then decide where they would like the mattress securement device  10  to be placed to produce the desired results. Once placement is established the user removes the peel-away layer  16  of the adhesive layer  14 , slightly raises one part of the mattress  20 , and attaches the mattress securement device  10  on the established place on top of the foundation  22  with the adhesive second side  14   b  downward, bonding it to the top surface  22   a  of the foundation  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The user would then place the mattress  20  down on the foundation  22  which makes the mattress securement device  10  no longer visible (between the mattress  20  and foundation  22 ) thus providing a neat appearance for the bed. Removing the mattress  20  completely from the foundation is not required. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the weight of the mattress  20  urges a portion thereof into each aperture  12   a . As a result, lateral movement of the mattress  20  is resisted by the circumferential edge of the apertures  12   a . Likewise, though not shown, the mattress is also gravitationally urged against the multi-directional surfaces and facets of the peripheral cut edges  30 , this engagement also resists lateral movement of the mattress  20  relative to the foundation  22 , as the mattress securement device  10  is secured to the foundation by way of the adhesive. The peripheral cut edges  30  may include any shape, size, or cut. The peripheral cut edges can be triangular, half round, square, half octagonal or non-standard in size and shape, including a wavy pattern as long as the peripheral cut edges  20  result in the multi-directional surfaces and/or facets that increase the frictional drag and/or resistance contemplated herein. So long as the facets are more than a simple slit they will work. It must have an opening of ⅛″ at a minimum to serve the purpose. But the spacing and shape would vary by the intended application. 
     The size and shape of the device and its apertures and facets will depend on the intended application; for example, a twin size mattress may not require the same size gripper as a king size mattress. And a set of sheets would require an entirely different size and shape than that of a mattress gripper. But they all require the apertures, facets, and the foam like substrate bonded to the self-adhesive layer. 
     Additionally, the mattress securement device  10  can be used to secure linens to a mattress and or foundation. This prevents the linens from lifting up and off the mattress, keeping the dust ruffle (also known as a bed skirt) in place on the foundation. The present invention can also be used to keep cushions on a couch or chair in place by placing it between the couch or chair and the cushion. The present invention can be used to hold almost any upholstered or fabric covered objects from sliding off one relative to the other. The objects need not be both upholstered surfaces, as the present invention can bond to one upholstered/fabric surface and one solid surface such as a wooden platform bed. Only one surface needs to be upholstered or fabric, preferably the top piece. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.