Patent Publication Number: US-2002010962-A1

Title: Bed mattress

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a mattress used for a bed, and more particularly, to a mattress of which resilience is not easily deteriorated and its deformation may be avoided even though it is used for a long time, and cushions on the top and bottom sides of which may be made of materials with different resiliences.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In a conventional mattress, a spring frame, which has a plurality of springs arranged at regular intervals, is mounted therein. A cover sheet is put on the top and bottom of the spring frame respectively, and four sides of the spring frame are enveloped in a side sheet. Then, the top and bottom edges of the side sheet are folded over perimetric portions of the cover sheets so as to be seamed together with a seaming sheet.  
       [0003] The cover sheet or side sheet is made by sequentially overlaying a sponge sheet and a fabric cloth on a nonwoven fabric and then by stitching them altogether. However, there is a limitation on their thicknesses due to the structure.  
       [0004] Since the cover sheet of the conventional mattress is relatively thin, it can hardly not serve as a primary buffer absorbing the pressure or the shock caused by the weight of the user and is liable to be easily damaged. Therefore, the pressure or the shock is applied almost directly to the spring frame so that the elasticity of the spring is easily weakened, resulting in shortened life of the mattress as a whole.  
       [0005] Particularly, the conventional mattress can not provide its user with a variety of resiliences, which depend mostly on the material and structure of the built-in spring frame. Thus, you can hardly find a mattress with a desirable resilience(s).  
       [0006] Further, the perimetric portion of the cover sheet is compressed and thinned by stitching in the course of the manufacturing. That is, the lowered edges of the cover sheet make the shape of the mattress homely, affecting the commercial value of the mattress.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] An object of the present invention is to make a mattress of which life may be prolonged and which can provide the cushion sheets on its top and bottom with different resiliences to be chosen by the user, by solving the problems of the conventional mattress as mentioned above.  
       [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a mattress, of which the shape and the commercial value as well are enhanced.  
       [0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, there is provided a mattress comprising a spring frame having a plurality of springs arranged side by side therein, a pad layer disposed on both or either of top side and bottom side of the spring frame, a side sheet wrapping the four perimetric side portions of the hexaderon as a combination of the spring frame and the pad layer(s), and one or two cushion portions arranged on the pad layer(s); so that either end portion of the pad layer(s) are spaced apart from the opposing surface of an outer perimeter of the cushion portion. The cushion portion comprises a cushion member made by bonding a compressed pad layer and a sponge sheet, a cover sheet stacked on the cushion member and an envelope sheet which envelops perimeters of the cushion member and the cover sheet together. According to the present invention, it is also possible to make resiliences of the cushion portions on the top and bottom sides different.  
       [0010] The mattress of the present invention is made such that the weight of a user and the pressure and shock caused during in use by the user may be absorbed or dispersed by the cushion member and thus not be transferred directly to the spring frame, making elasticity of the springs maintained for a long time. Consequently, the cover sheet may not be easily damaged. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a bed mattress according to a first embodiment of the present invention,  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the mattress in FIG. 1,  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mattress in FIG. 1,  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a bed mattress according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the mattress in FIG. 4,  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a bed mattress according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a bed mattress according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION FOR PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] FIGS.  1  to  3  are a perspective view and sectional views showing a part of the mattress according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The mattress comprises a spring frame  10  with a plurality of springs arranged side by side with certain intervals therein, two pad layers  13  disposed on the top and bottom sides of the spring frame  10 , a side sheet  20  wrapping four sides of the spring frame, two cushion portions  10   a  placed on the two pad layers  13  and having a thickness different from that of the pad layers  13 ; the cushion portion  10   a  comprising a cushion member  60  formed by bonding a compressed pad layer  61  and a sponge sheet  62 ; a cover sheet  70  which covers the top surface of the cushion member  60 ; and two envelope sheets  32 , first halves of which surround perimeters and bottom surfaces adjacent thereto of the cushion members  60  and second halves of which are folded back so as to cover perimetric portions of each pad layer  13 , leaving a gap between the opposing surfaces of the folded first and second halves.  
     [0020] The spring frame  10  has a plurality of springs  12  arranged side by side at certain intervals between the upper and lower supporting rims  11  made of a steel wire or the like.  
     [0021] An intermediate sheet  31 , which is made of bonded textile and sponge sheets, may be interposed between the cushion member  60  and the pad layer  13  and placed under the second half of the envelope sheet  32 , while it may be omitted.  
     [0022] For having the first and second halves of the envelope sheet  32  attached to the perimeters and bottom surface adjacent thereto of the cushion member  60  and the perimetric surface of the intermediate sheet, the folded portions  321  of the envelope sheet  32  are sewn together on the intermediate sheet  31 , fixing the cushion member  60  to the pad layer  13 .  
     [0023] The perimetric portions of the envelope sheet  32  and the intermediate sheet  31  are overlaid on the top or bottom end of the side sheet  20  so as to be surrounded by a seaming sheet  40  and sewn altogether for binding.  
     [0024] Accordingly, the outside of the spring frame  10  and the cushion member  60  disposed on the top or bottom thereof are fully covered and surrounded by the envelope sheet  32  and the side sheet  20 . An opening  50  for receiving the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70  is formed by the first half of the envelope sheet  32  with a depth that is in proportion to the latter&#39;s size. The cover sheet  70  is made by piling up a nonwoven fabric  71 , a sponge sheet  72  and a cloth  73  one by one and its perimeters are placed on the end portion of the first half of the envelope sheet  32  so as to be surrounded by the seaming sheet  40 ′ and then stitched to be bound together.  
     [0025] The cushion member  60  is made by superposing and adhering a compressed pad layer  61  having appropriate thickness on a surface of a sponge sheet  62  having a thickness thicker than the compressed pad layer.  
     [0026] If the sponge sheet  62  is of a high density, the resilience of the cushion member is hard, while the sponge sheet of a low density gives a relatively soft resilience to the cushion member.  
     [0027] By the way, if required, the positions of the compressed pad layer  61  and the sponge sheet  62  may be reversed so as to provide a relatively harder resilience.  
     [0028] Thus, there is provided a mattress comprising the cushion portion  10   a  with an appropriate thickness, which has the cover sheet  70  arranged on the top and bottom sides of the spring frame  10  and kept by the envelope sheet  32 . The cushion portion is arranged so that the first half of the envelope sheet  32  extending from the folded part  321  may be spaced apart from the second half of the envelope sheet on the pad layer  13 .  
     [0029] First seam portions are formed by the seaming sheets  40  on both end portions of the side sheet  20  and second seam portions are respectively provided opposite each of the first seam portions by the seaming sheet  40 ′.  
     [0030] The two cushion portions can be made to have either an identical resilience or different ones. The cushion member  60  may be provided with a metal wire reinforcing rim  63  interposed between the compressed pad layer  61  and the sponge sheet  62  for inwardly and upwardly supporting the pad layer  61 .  
     [0031] Because the top and bottom cushion members may have different resiliences, one mattress can have two types of cushions portions  10   a  so that the user can select and use either of the two types as desired. Since the reinforcing rims support the bottom portion of the outside of the cushion portion, they help the cushion portion keep its original appearance and shape for a long time.  
     [0032]FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively a side view and an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of a mattress according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0033] The mattress according to this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the mattress comprises a second side sheet  20 ′ surrounding between the outer surface of the cover sheet  70  and that of the cushion member  60  on either of the top and bottom of the spring frame so that the perimetric portions of the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70  are spaced apart from each other, the perimetric portion of the cushion member  60  and one end portion of the second side sheet  20 ′ are placed on the upper end of the first half of the envelope sheet  32  and they are surrounded by a seaming sheet  40 ′ and then sewn together; and the perimetric portion of the cover sheet  70  and the other end of the second side sheet  20 ′ are surrounded by and sewn with the seaming sheet  40 ′, so that the second side sheet  20 ′ may surround between the perimetric portions of the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70 .  
     [0034] In this manner, the side sheet  20 ′ surrounds between and connects the seaming sheets  40 ′,  40 ″ so that the perimetric portions of the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70  are connected to each other.  
     [0035] Accordingly, the top and bottom ends of the perimetric portion of the cushion portion  10   a  are reinforced by means of the second and third seam portions made by sewing the seaming sheets  40 ′,  40 ″ and thus the original form of the perimetric portion of the cushion portion  10   a  is not easily deformed even though it is used for a long time with or without the reinforcing rim  63  arranged in the cushion member  60 .  
     [0036] On the other hand, although the cushion portion  10   a  in the first and second embodiments has been described as being made of the compressed pad layer  61  and the sponge sheet  62 , it is not limited thereto. Any materials that can substitute for the functions of the compressed pad layer and the sponge sheet may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
     [0037]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of a mattress according to a third embodiment of the present invention as a revision of the first embodiment, which further comprises binding bands  80  with binding pieces  81  on both ends thereof which penetrate through the pad layer  13  and the cushion member  60  for binding the layer  13  and the member  60  together.  
     [0038]FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of a mattress according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as other revision of the first embodiment, which further comprises binding bands  80  with binding pieces  81  on both ends thereof which penetrate through the pad layer  13 , the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70  for binding the layer  13 , the member  60  and the sheet  70  together.  
     [0039] When they are bound together in such a manner that the binding bands  80  penetrate through the parts or members like the last two embodiments, the cushion member  60  and the cover sheet  70  are securely bound together without producing any slippage therebetween.  
     [0040] Adhesives may be sprayed or applied on the surfaces where the respective members for constituting the cushion portion  10   a  face each other, or where the cushion portion  10   a  and the pad layer  13  face each other in order to bond them securely.  
     [0041] The members are united mutually so that the binding or sewing operation after overlaying the respective members may be easily performed and the adhesion or contact between the neighboring members are prevented during in use and deformation of the mattress may also be avoided.  
     [0042] According to the mattresses of the embodiments of the present invention, the cushion portions are arranged on both or either of the top and bottom of the mattress, the pressure caused by the weight of the user, the shock or the like applied during in use are primarily dispersed and absorbed by the cushion parts so as not to be transferred directly to the spring frame. Thus, the present invention has an advantage that the life of the springs is prevented from being shortened and the original shape of cushion can be maintained for a relatively long time.  
     [0043] In addition, if the materials and the resulting resiliences of the cushion portions are different from each other, it is possible further user to choose between the two different cushions in accordance with the user&#39;s option. Furthermore, since the resiliences of edges of the mattress is reinforced by the cushion materials and the first to third seam portions, the edges of the mattress are prevented from sinking even though it is used for a long time. Thus, the area on the mattress available to the user increases and the original shape thereof is maintained for a long time. Therefore, there are advantages that its appearance is prevented from being damaged and the commercial value thereof is enhanced.  
     [0044] Since the cover sheet is supported by the cushion member and separated from the spring frame, it is not easily damaged, preventing the life of the mattress from being shortened.  
     [0045] As the respective stacked overlaid members for constituting the cushion member and the cover sheet are bonded to each other or bound by means of the binding bands which penetrate through those members, the respective members are securely bound and united so as not to get out of firm contact with each other. Thus, the deformation of the mattress can be prevented and the function of the cushion portions is maintained during a relatively long prolonged duration of use.