Patent Publication Number: US-10765226-B2

Title: Mattress with longitudinally adjustable vertical relief

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Mattresses that have adjustable relief area allow expectant mothers to sleep in various positions with greater comfort than standard mattresses. However, such mattresses typically provide only adjustable relief in a vertical direction from the top surface of the mattress. While mattresses with such relief may benefit some expectant mothers, these mattresses fail to take into account the various body shapes and sizes of expectant mothers. A particular woman&#39;s height, weight, and how the woman carries the baby may greatly impact the efficacy of a mattress with abdominal relief, or even render the mattress unusable for the woman. This is because the relief volume may not adequately accommodate the woman&#39;s abdomen in a manner that offers adequate relief and comfort during pregnancy. Alternatively, a particular mattress may offer adequate relief during a first or second trimester, but during the later stages of pregnancy the mattress may no longer be able to offer adequate relief. 
     SUMMARY 
     This specification relates to a mattress with a vertical relief that is also longitudinally adjustable such that the mattress may accommodate women of various heights, weights and carry positions during pregnancy, and yet still offer necessary support and relief for comfort. 
     In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a mattress apparatus that includes a base portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing side surfaces that include a head side surface and a foot side surface, and defining a longitudinal axis from the head side surface to the bottom side surface; a relief volume within a sub-portion of the top surface, the relief volume defined by a relief periphery within the opposing side surfaces of the top portion and side walls extending vertically downward by a vertical distance into the base portion from the relief periphery; a set of central insert elements, wherein each central insert element is shaped such that each central insert element, when inserted into the relief volume, has a first side wall and a second side wall that abuts at least a portion of a first side wall and a second side wall of the relief volume that are opposing each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and has a third side wall and a fourth side wall that is spaced apart from a third side wall and a fourth side wall of the relief volume to form respective first and second peripheral volumes with the relief volume and that are respectively intersected by the longitudinal axis; for each peripheral volume, a set of peripheral insert elements, wherein each peripheral insert element is shaped such that when inserted into a relief volume, side walls of the peripheral insert element abut the third side wall or the fourth side wall of the central insert element and the third side wall or the fourth side wall of the relief volume; each central insert element and peripheral insert element have respective top and bottom surfaces spaced apart by a respective height that is equal to or less than the vertical distance by which the side walls of the relief volume extend downward; and the central insert elements and the peripheral insert elements may be individually and separately placed within the relief volume so that a plurality of adjusted relief volumes may be formed, wherein each adjusted relief volume is oriented differently from each other adjustable relief volume. 
     Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a mattress apparatus that includes a base portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing side surfaces that include a head side surface and a foot side surface, and defining a longitudinal axis from the head side surface to the bottom side surface; a relief volume within a sub-portion of the top surface, the relief volume defined by a relief periphery within the opposing side surfaces of the top portion and side walls extending vertically downward by a vertical distance into the base portion from the relief periphery; a set of central insert elements, wherein each central insert element is shaped such that each central insert element, when inserted into the relief volume, has a first side wall and a second side wall that abuts at least a portion of a first side wall and a second side wall of the relief volume that are opposing each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and has a third side wall that is spaced apart from a third side wall of the relief volume to form a first peripheral volume within the relief volume; a set of peripheral insert elements, wherein each peripheral insert element is shaped such that when inserted into the peripheral volume, side walls of the peripheral insert element abut the third side wall the central insert element and the third side wall of the relief volume; each central insert element and peripheral insert element have respective top and bottom surfaces spaced apart by a respective height that is equal to or less than the vertical distance by which the side walls of the relief volume extend downward; and the central insert elements and the peripheral insert elements may be individually and separately placed within the relief volume so that a plurality of adjusted relief volumes may be formed, wherein each adjusted relief volume is oriented differently from each other adjustable relief volume. 
     The subject matter may realize one or more of the following advantages. The plurality of relief volumes that may be formed enable a single apparatus to accommodate various body shapes. Accordingly, the manufacturing costs required to accommodate multiple different users is reduced. As a person&#39;s body shape changes, the relief volume may likewise be adjusted. Accordingly, the apparatus may be used over an entire pregnancy, for example, without the need for additional purchases. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one implementation of a mattress apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the mattress apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another cross-sectional view of the mattress apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  are perspective views of the central insert elements and the peripheral insert elements. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate an example adjusted relief volume. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a covering for a central insert element. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a covering for a peripheral insert element. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of another implementation of a mattress apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  are various illustrations of mattress apparatus  100 , which includes a base portion  101 , central insert elements  150 , and peripheral insert elements  160 . The mattress apparatus  100  as shown depicts a twin bed configuration; however, the mattress apparatus may also be designed for two persons, e.g., king or queen sized. In these larger sizes, the mattress apparatus  100  may include a relief portion on only one side of the mattress, or, alternatively, on both sides. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the base portion  101  includes a top surface  102 , a bottom surface  103 , and opposing side surfaces that include a head side surface  104 , a foot side surface  106 , right side surface  108  and a left side surface  110 . The mattress apparatus  100  defines a longitudinal axis  112  from the head side surface  104  to the foot side surface  106 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the axis  112  is centrally disposed and in the direction a person will lay when resting on the mattress. For a larger mattress, the axis may be disposed on one side of the mattress such that it is approximately centrally disposed where one of two persons would normally lie in rest. 
     A relief volume  120  is formed within a sub-portion of the top surface  102 . The relief volume  120  is defined by a relief periphery  122  within the opposing side surfaces  104 ,  106 ,  108  and  110  of the top portion  101 . Side walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  extend vertically downward by a vertical distance into the base portion  101  from the relief periphery  122 , thus forming the relief volume  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the volume has two depths, D 1  and D 2  . The depth D 1  defines a depth to peripheral bottom surfaces  142  and  144 , and the sum of the depths D 1  and D 2  defines a depth to the central bottom surface  140 . In an alternate implementation, the entire relief volume  120  may be of the same depth, e.g., D 1 +D 2 . As will be described in more detail below, the relief volume  120  is shaped to receive various insert elements  150  and  160  so that a person, particularly an expectant mother, may configure the shape of the relief volume to be one of many possible configurations that each differ in length and/or depth, thereby allowing the person to adjust the mattress to provide optimum support for the person&#39;s particular body shape. 
     The mattress apparatus  100  includes a set of central insert elements  150 . Each central insert element  150  is shaped such that each central insert element  150 , when inserted into the relief volume  120 , has a first side wall  152  and a second side wall  154  that abuts at least a portion of a first side wall  132  and a second side wall  134  of the relief volume  120 . The first side wall  132  and a second side wall  134  are opposing each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis  112  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The central insert element  150 , which in this example is circular, has a third side wall  156  and a fourth side wall  158  (in this case, arcuate regions of the cylindrical sides of the circularly shaped insert element). When inserted into the relief volume  120  of the base portion  101 , the third side wall  156  and a fourth side wall  158  are spaced apart from a third side wall  124  and a fourth side wall  128  of the relief volume  120  to form respective first and second peripheral volumes  145  and  143  within the relief volume  120 . The peripheral relief volumes  143  and  145  are respectively intersected by the longitudinal axis  112  and are respectively located above the peripheral bottom surfaces  142  and  144 . 
     For each peripheral volume  143  and  145 , the mattress apparatus  100  includes a set of peripheral insert elements  160 . Each peripheral insert element  160  is shaped such that when inserted into the relief volume  120  (and in particular, into a peripheral volume of the relief volume), the side wall  164  of the peripheral insert element  160  abut the third side wall  156  or the fourth side wall  158  of the central insert element  150 , and the side wall  162  abuts the third side wall  124  or the fourth side wall  128  of the relief volume  120 . 
     Each central insert element  150  and peripheral insert element  160  have respective top surfaces  159  and  169  and bottom surfaces  158  and  168  spaced apart by a respective height (or vertical thickness of the insert element) that is equal to or less than the vertical distance by which the side walls of the relief volume  120  extend downward. For example, assume that the distance D 2  is one-half the distance of D 1 , and the each insert element  150  and  160  has a respective height of D 2 . The central insert elements  150  and the peripheral insert elements  160  may thus be individually and separately placed within the relief volume  120  so that multiple adjusted relief volumes  120  may be formed, where each adjusted relief volume  120  is oriented differently from each other adjustable relief volume  120 . 
     One example of an adjusted relief volume is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , which illustrate a cross-sectional view and a top view of an adjusted relief volume  120 . In this example, a single central insert element  150  and a single peripheral insert element  160  are inserted into the relief volume. This results in two support surfaces—the support surface  160 , which is a distance D 2  from the top surface  102 , and the combination support surface formed by flush surfaces  169  and  144 , which is a distance D 1  (or 2* D 2 ) from the top surface  102 . By adding or removing insert elements  150  and  160 , the relief volume may be both longitudinally and vertically adjusted to support different body shapes. 
     Note that the side wall  164  of the peripheral insert element  160  abuts a side wall of a central insert element  150  when the central insert element in similar vertical disposition with the peripheral insert element  160 . Otherwise, the side wall  164  is exposed. For example, assume that only enough central insert elements  150  (e.g., one or more) are inserted into the relief volume  120  such that a top surface  159  of a top stacked central insert element  150  is flush with the peripheral bottom surfaces  142  and  144  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). Then the peripheral insert element  160  is inserted such that it sits atop the peripheral bottom surface  142 , and the side wall  162  abuts the side wall  128 . The side wall  164  will then be exposed, as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the set of central insert elements  150  include two or more central insert elements  150  that are stackable on each other. Each have a respective height such that when the entire set of central insert elements  150  are vertically stacked within the relief volume, a top surface  159  of a top stacked central insert element  150  is flush with the top surface  102  of the base portion  101 . Otherwise, when a proper subset of the set of central insert elements  150  are vertically stacked within the relief volume, a top surface  159  of a top stacked central insert element  150  is below the top surface  102  of the base portion  101 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     Likewise, each set of peripheral insert elements  160  may include one or more peripheral insert elements  160 . In the case in which two or more peripheral insert elements  160  are included in a set, the elements  160  are stackable on each other, and that each has a respective height such that when the entire set of peripheral insert elements  160  are vertically stacked within the relief volume, a top surface  169  of a top stacked peripheral insert element  160  is flush with the top surface  102  of the base portion  101 . Conversely, when a proper subset of the set of peripheral insert elements  160  are vertically stacked within the relief volume, a top surface  169  of a top stacked peripheral insert element  160  is below the top surface  102  of the base portion  101 . Again, this latter configuration is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , where the top surface  169  is a distance D 2  below the top surface  102 . 
     In the example implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-5B , the first side wall  132  and the second side wall  134  of the relief volume that abut at least the first side  152  wall and the second side wall  154  of the central insert element  150  extend downward a first vertical distance D 1  +D 2 , and the third side wall  124  and the fourth side wall  128  of the relief volume that abut the side walls of the peripheral insert elements  160  extend downward a second vertical distance D 1  that is less than the first vertical distance D 1 +D 2 , which results in the peripheral bottom surfaces  142  and  144 . The relief volume  120  is thus further defined by peripheral bottom surfaces disposed by the second vertical distance from the top surface  102  of the base portion  101  and the central bottom surface  140  that is below the peripheral bottom surfaces  142  and  144  and disposed the first vertical distance D 1  +D 2  from the base portion  101 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are illustrations of coverings  250  and  260  for a central insert element  150  and a peripheral element  160 , respectively. The covering  250  is shown in phantom and its size is slightly exaggerated relative to the central insert element  150  for illustrative purposes. The covering  250  includes a closure  252  on the bottom that may be opened to insert or remove the central insert element  150 . Any appropriate closure mechanism may be used, such as buttons, a zipper, or hook and loop fasteners, and the like. Alternatively, the closure may simply be overlapping fabric. 
     The covering  260 , which is not shown in phantom, also includes a closure  262  on the side and that may be opened to insert or remove the peripheral insert element  160 . Although shown on the interior side, the closure may instead be on the bottom or on the other side. 
     In some implementations, the coverings  250  and  260  include fasteners that enable the insert elements to be affixed to each other. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the covering  250  includes button slots  254  and the covering  260  includes buttons. In an alternate implementation, the covering  250  may not include fasteners, the covering  260  may include buttons on the opposite side, and a mattress covering may include buttonholes to receive the buttons  264  of the covering  260 . This has the added advantage of not exposing the person to the buttons when the inserts are used. Other fastening devices may also be used, and fastening devices may be located on any of the surfaces of the coverings  250  and  260 . 
     Finally, in some implementations, the covering  260  may include a fabric loop  270  in which may be inserted a stiffener, such as a pre-shaped plastic stiffener  272 , which can assist maintaining the crescent shape of peripheral insert element  160 . The stiffener  272  may be slipped out of the loop  270  when the covering  250  is to be cleaned. 
     In some implementations, wherein the base portion  101  and the insert elements are formed out of memory foam. Any appropriate memory foam density may be used, e.g., 3 pound foam, 4 pound foam, depending on the firmness and density desired. In some implementations, the base portion may be made of a foam having a first density, and the inserts may be made of a foam having a second density different from the first density. 
     Other shapes for insert elements may also be used. For example, in  FIG. 8 , the a circular central insert element and elongated crescent peripheral insert elements may be used, as indicated by the elongated side walls  302  and  304  in connection with the peripheral wall  306 , and elongated side walls  312  and  314  in connection with the peripheral wall  316 . Additionally, the central inserts need not be circular in shape; they instead may be oblong, or even rectangular. Likewise, different periphery shapes may also be used. 
     While the insert elements  150  and  160  are described as being of equal heights, they may instead each be of different heights. Moreover, while the example implementation illustrates three central inserts and two peripheral inserts, more or fewer inserts could be used. For example, in some implementations, inserts may be stacked up to four, five or even six deep before having a top-stacked element surface flush with the top surface of the base portion. 
     Finally, in some implementations, only one set of peripheral insert elements may be used. For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the relief volume may be shaped such that the bottom peripheral volume  145  does not exist, and thus only one peripheral volume (e.g., volume  143 ) is formed. 
     While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.