Abstrict A mattress clip is provided which, when used in pairs, secures
a mattress to an adjustable bed to prevent the mattress from sliding
off leg, thigh, hip and back supports of the adjustable bed. Two
clips are secured to the thigh support in cantilever fashion with
opposing free ends projecting toward each other and being received
in axial open ends of a tube sewn to a cover of the mattress. Though
limited transverse and longitudinal motion of the mattress relative
to the leg, thigh, hip and back supports can take place during adjusting
movements of the adjustable bed, the mattress is precluded from
excessive shifting and cannot inadvertently or accidentally slide
off the supports. Each mattress clip includes elongated openings
through which bolts are passed for reception in aligned openings
of the thigh support to permit limited transverse adjustment of
the mattress clips.
Claims 1. A hold-down system comprising a support and an element resting
upon said support, means for defining a pocket with respect to one
of said support and said element, and means carried by the other
of said support and said element for reception in said pocket means
whereby said element is held down upon said support.
2. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said element
and support each include a longitudinal axis, and said pocket means
and said reception means are each disposed in substantial transverse
relationship to said longitudinal axes.
3. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said pocket
means is a substantially tubular configuration.
4. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said reception
means is an elongated member.
5. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said reception
means is carried in substantially cantilevered relationship relative
to the other of said support and said element.
6. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support
is part of a bed and said element is a mattress.
7. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 including further
means carried by the other of said support and said element for
reception in said pocket means whereby said element is held down
upon said support.
8. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 including further
means carried by the other of said support and said element for
reception in said pocket means in opposing relationship to said
first-mentioned reception means whereby said element is held down
upon said support.
9. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 including further
means carried by the other of said support and said element for
reception in said pocket means in axial opposing relationship to
said first-mentioned reception means whereby said element is held
down upon said support.
10. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said pocket
means is a substantially tubular pocket.
11. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said pocket
means is a substantially tubular fabric pocket.
12. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 including fastener
means for fastening said reception means to the other of said support
and said element.
13. The hold-down system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support
is a mattress support and said element is a mattress, said pocket
means is part of said mattress, and said reception means is carried
by said mattress support.
14. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 including means
for defining another pocket for the reception of said reception
means, and said first-mentioned and said another pocket means are
on opposite sides of said mattress.
15. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 including means
for defining another pocket for the reception of said reception
means, said first-mentioned and said another pocket means are on
opposite sides of said mattress, and at least one of said first-mentioned
and another pocket means is a tubular member.
16. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover, and said pocket means is defined by a
piece of material having opposite edges secured to said mattress
cover.
17. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover, and said pocket means is defined by a
piece of material exterior of said mattress cover having opposite
edges secured to an outer surface of said mattress cover.
18. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover, and said pocket means is defined by a
piece of material interior of said mattress cover having opposite
edges secured to an inner surface of said mattress cover.
19. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover, said pocket means is defined by a piece
of material interior of said mattress cover having opposite edges
secured to an inner surface of said mattress cover, and opening
means in said cover for accessing said reception means therethrough
into said pocket means.
20. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mattress
includes a cover, and said pocket means is an opening in said cover
for the receipt of said reception means.
21. The hold-down system as defined in claim 13 including another
means for defining another pocket means for reception of another
means carried by said mattress support for reception in said another
pocket means, and said first-mentioned and another pocket means
are disposed on a same side of the mattress.
22. The hold-down system as defined in claim 21 wherein said first-mentioned
and another pocket means are each defined by a tubular member.
23. The hold-down system as defined in claim 21 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover and said first-mentioned and another pocket
means are each defined by a piece of material having opposite edges
secured to said mattress cover.
24. The hold-down system as defined in claim 21 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover and said first-mentioned and another pocket
means are each defined by a piece of material exterior of said mattress
cover having opposite edges secured to an outer surface of said
mattress cover.
25. The hold-down system as defined in claim 21 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover and said first-mentioned and another pocket
means are each defined by a piece of material interior of said mattress
cover having opposite edges secured to an inner surface of said
mattress cover.
26. The hold-down system as defined in claim 21 wherein said mattress
includes a mattress cover, said first-mentioned and another pocket
means are each defined by a piece of material having opposite edges
secured to said mattress cover, and first and second opening means
in said cover for accessing said first-mentioned and another reception
means therethrough into said respective first-mentioned and another
pockets.
27. A bed comprising a mattress support, a mattress resting upon
said mattress support, said mattress including a covering, first
means for defining a first opening relative to said mattress, second
means for defining a second opening relative to said mattress, said
first and second openings being on substantially transversely opposite
sides of a longitudinal axis of said mattress, first means carried
by said mattress support for entry into said first opening, and
second means carried by said mattress support for entry into said
second opening whereby said mattress is retained upon said mattress
support.
28. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are each defined by an opening in said mattress cover.
29. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by axial opposite openings of a tubular pocket.
30. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by axial opposite openings of a tubular pocket
located exteriorly of said mattress cover.
31. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by axial opposite openings of a tubular pocket
located interiorly of said mattress cover.
32. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by axial opposite openings of a tubular pocket
defined by a tubular member carried by said mattress cover.
33. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by axial opposite openings of a tubular pocket
defined by a strip of material secured at opposite edges thereof
to said mattress cover.
34. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are defined by respective first and second tubular pockets.
35. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
openings are substantially transversely aligned.
36. The bed as defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
37. The bed as defined in claim 28 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
38. The bed as defined in claim 29 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
39. The bed as defined in claim 30 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
40. The bed as defined in claim 31 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
41. The bed as defined in claim 32 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
42. The bed as defined in claim 33 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
43. The bed as defined in claim 34 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
44. The bed as defined in claim 35 wherein said first and second
entry means are respective first and second members each having
a terminal end portion received in one of said first and second
openings.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to an adjustable bed and specifically
to a pair of identical mattress clips which are associated with
a mattress to prevent the mattress from sliding off the adjustable
bed, particularly when the adjustable bed is moved between its various
positions of adjustment.
[0002] A conventional adjustable bed includes an adjustable frame
which is utilized in conjunction with several supports upon which
a mattress rests. The adjustable frame can be adjusted to move between
a substantially horizontal planar position to one of several positions
in which leg, thigh and back supports are inclined at an angle to
the horizontal to provide appropriate adjustment while a person
sleeps, eats, reads, watches television or is otherwise required
to spend considerable lengths of time in bed for therapeutic purposes,
as might occur should such a person be injured or is suffering from
physical or mental problems. Typical of such adjustable or articulated
beds are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4381571; 4385410;
4407030; 5537701; 5870784 and 6276011 B1. In such articulated
beds a foot retainer is generally used to prevent the mattress from
sliding off the mattress supports. Side mattress retainers have
also been utilized to prevent mattresses from sliding laterally
off mattress supports. Whether in the form of a foot or base retainer
or a side retainer, such retainers are visible to the consumer and
immediately "earmark" the bed as being adjustable. As
such, adjustable beds have a bad connotation with a percentage of
the bed purchasing public because purchasers believe adjustable
beds appear "medical" and are designed for older or geriatric
users. By virtue of the adjustable bed mattress clips of the present
invention, an adjustable bed appears to be a conventional "normal"
bed because the mattress clips are sandwiched between the mattress
and the mattress supports and permits the adjustable bed to appear
mainstream and in turn becomes more marketable to a larger customer
base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In keeping with the foregoing, a primary object of the invention
is to provide an adjustable bed which is of a conventional construction
insofar as it includes the typical supports and adjusting mechanisms
of the latter-identified patents, but significantly differs therefrom
by providing a novel mattress clip which is utilized in pairs to
retain a bed mattress supported upon supports of the adjustable
bed to prevent the mattress from sliding off the latter either longitudinally
or transversely. The adjustable bed preferably includes an adjustable
bed frame defined by a backrest frame, a hip frame, a thigh frame
and a leg frame which respectively support a back support, a hip
support, a thigh support and a leg support. A mattress is supported
atop the latter supports and the mattress clips of the present invention
are sandwiched between an underside of the mattress and one of the
mattress supports, preferably the thigh support.
[0004] Each of the mattress clips is an elongated member having
opposite ends with one end being adjustably secured to the thigh
support and the opposite end being cantilevered and housed within
an open end of a fabric tube sewn or otherwise secured to the underside
of the mattress cover substantially normal to a longitudinal axis
of the mattress. The latter arrangement of the mattress clips prevents
the mattress from sliding off the mattress supports either transversely
or longitudinally in any position of the adjustable bed whether
stationary or during adjusting movement thereof.
[0005] In lieu of a single fabric tube or sleeve secured to the
underside of the mattress covering, two separate tubes can be secured
in transverse alignment to the underside of the mattress covering.
As a further embodiment, in lieu of a sleeve or tube, a strip of
material can be sewn directly to an exterior of the mattress cover
normal to the longitudinal axis of the mattress with opposite ends
of the strip of material being open which allows the clips to be
slid into these open opposite ends. Thus, the single strip of material
is sewn only along longitudinal edges thereof to the mattress cover
which in effect defines a "tube" between the strip of
material and the mattress cover having axial open ends which can
receive the mattress clips. As an alternative to the latter, the
transverse edges of the strip of material can also be sewn to the
cover and inboard of transversely sewn ends there is provided a
slot for each mattress clip for entry into the sleeve or tube, again
formed by the separate transverse strip of material and the portion
of the mattress cover to which it is sewn. However, no matter the
construction of the strip or tube, the same need but provide access
therethrough for the oppositely opposing cantilevered ends of the
mattress clips to thereby retain the mattress in position and prevent
slippage thereof.
[0006] A less desirable alternate to the latter constructions would
be to provide the mattress covering with such transversely aligned
slits and sew a separate piece of fabric transversely to an interior
surface of the mattress covering. The cantilevered end of each mattress
clip would then enter each slit of the mattress cover from the exterior
and enter the sleeve or tube interiorly of the mattress covering.
The latter construction obviously hides the transverse strip interiorly
of the mattress which provides aesthetic benefits, particularly
if the mattress covering is reinforced in the area of the slits.
[0007] No matter the construction for the tube, pocket, sleeve
or the like, with or without mattress cover slits, such can be provided
at both top and bottom cover portions of the mattress cover to permit
the mattress to be "flipped," and in either position the
mattress clips are operative to prevent the mattress from slipping
off the mattress supports.
[0008] With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter
appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood
by reference to the following detailed description, the appended
claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a novel adjustable bed
constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates an
adjustable bed including a main frame, a plurality of relatively
movable mattress supports, a mattress supported atop the mattress
supports, and opposing cantilevered mattress retention clips carried
by one of the mattress supports and received in axially opposite
open ends of a lower tube, sleeve or pocket secured to an underside
of a cover of the mattress.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable bed of FIG.
1 with the mattress removed, and illustrates the mattress supports
in one of a multiplicity of adjusted positions and two transversely
aligned mattress retention clips.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic end view of the adjustable bed,
and illustrates the manner in which the mattress is secured to and
retained upon one of the mattress supports through the cantilevered
mattress retaining clips and the tubes, sleeves or pockets of the
mattress cover.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross sectional
view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrates one
of the cantiievered mattress retaining clips received in an end
of the underside or lower tube, sleeve or pocket with the upper
side or upper tube, sleeve or pocket being substantially flattened.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the mattress retaining
clips or brackets of the invention, and illustrates opposite end
portions disposed in substantially parallel planes and an offset
medial portion therebetween.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another adjustable bed,
and illustrates a mattress having pairs of transversely aligned
pockets secured to a mattress cover at upper and lower surfaces
of the mattress with cantilevered mattress retention clips being
received in a lower pair of the pockets.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken
generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and illustrates an end of one
of the cantilevered mattress retention clips housed within one of
the mattress cover lower side pockets.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another adjustable bed,
and illustrates transversely disposed pockets or tubes each formed
by a single strip of fabric material carried by upper and lower
portions of the mattress cover with the lower tube receiving opposing
ends of cantilevered mattress retention clips in open ends thereof.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken
generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and illustrates details of an
end of the cantilevered mattress retention clip being received in
the pocket or tube.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another adjustable bed,
and illustrates pairs of transversely aligned pockets at upper and
lower surfaces of a mattress cover or covering of the mattress and
ends of cantilevered mattress retention clips being received in
the lower pockets.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken
generally along line 11-11 of FIG. 10 and illustrated details of
an end portion of one of the cantilevered mattress retention brackets
being received in one of the pockets.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another adjustable bed,
and illustrates a mattress having transversely aligned inner pockets
in upper and lower portions of the mattress cover and ends of cantilevered
mattress retention brackets being received in the pockets through
slits or openings in the mattress cover.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken
generally along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 and illustrates the end portion
of one of the cantilevered mattress retention clips being received
in one of the inner mattress pockets through an associated slit
or opening in the mattress cover.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another adjustable bed,
and illustrates upper and lower interior transversely aligned pairs
of pockets associated with the mattress and ends of cantilevered
mattress retention clips being received in the lower pockets through
slits in the mattress cover.
[0023] FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 and illustrates details
of the cantilevered mattress retention bracket or clip relative
to its associated pocket and mattress cover slit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] An adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this invention
is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings and is generally
designated by the reference numeral 10.
[0025] The adjustable bed 10 includes a frame or foundation 15
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
16 and a peripheral wall 17 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 18 (FIG.
2) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
20 (FIG. 3). The bed adjusting mechanism 20 forms no part of the
present invention but may include all of the frames, cross-bars,
linkages, pivots, pivoting mechanisms and drive motors disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6276011 B1 granted to Santino Antinori on Aug.
21 2001 all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The
bed adjusting mechanism 20 further includes four relatively movable
mattress supports, namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts,
a hip support Hs and a back support Bs, which are movable between
a horizontal uniplanar position (FIGS. 1 and 3) and any one of a
number of relatively adjusted positions (FIG. 2).
[0026] A mattress 25 (FIGS. 1 3 and 4) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex core
21 (FIG. 4) and a fabric cover or covering 22 defined in part by
an upper fabric covering portion 23 and a lower fabric covering
portion 24.
[0027] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 25 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs,
and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 30 and includes
identical means 31 32 for defining respectively upper and lower
pocket means, pockets, sleeves or tubes defining axially opposite
openings (unnumbered) in each of which is received a cantilevered
end 41 of clip means or bracket means 40 (FIG. 5) for retaining
the mattress 25 relatively immobile relative to the mattress supports
Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective of the position of the mattress supports
when moving or in any stationary position of adjustment thereof.
Each of the clip means or cantilevered mattress retention clips
40 further includes an end 42 remote from the end 41 and offset
relatively thereto by an offset medial portion 43. The end portion
42 of each of the cantilevered mattress retention clips 40 includes
a pair of aligned elongated slots 44 45 through which pass respective
bolts 46 47 (FIG. 4) which pass through respective openings 51
52 of the thigh support Ts and are held thereto by thumb screws
48 49 respectively. As is most readily apparent from FIG. 1 with
the end portions 41 41 of the cantilevered mattress retention clips
40 40 being received in the opposite ends of the lower tube or
pocket 32 (FIG. 4), the mattress 25 is rendered substantially immobile
and cannot slip from or off the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs, no matter the positions of the latter. The hold-down system
30 thereby eliminates the use of conventional foot and/or side mattress
retainers and absent the latter, the adjustable bed 10 has the appearance
of a conventional "normal" bed (FIG. 1) which renders
the same much more marketable because the adjustable bed 10 appears
to be a mainstream conventional bed and thus is more marketable
to a larger customer base.
[0028] Each of the pockets or tubes 31 32 is preferably made of
relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded or
sewn to the respective upper and lower fabric covering portions
23 24 of the mattress cover 22. The fabric material of the pockets
31 32 is very thin, lies substantially flat (pocket 31 of FIGS.
1 and 3) and cannot be readily visually seen or discerned when the
mattress 25 is covered by a mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket and/or
the like, and more importantly a person lying atop the mattress
25 no matter which covering portion 23 24 is uppermost, cannot
"feel" the respective tube or pocket 31 32 respectively.
Thus, the mattress can be occasionally "flipped" or turned,
as is conventional, and no matter which covering portion 23 24
of the fabric cover 22 is uppermost or lowermost, the uppermost
pocket, tube or sleeve 31 or 32 will not be readily seen or felt
by a person while the then lower tube or pocket 31 or 32 can be
connected to the mattress retention clips 40 40.
[0029] The mattress 25 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 10 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof by first drilling two pairs of the holes 51 52 in transverse
alignment with each other at opposite longitudinal edges (unnumbered)
of the thigh support Ts at a distance prescribed by the manufacture
of the adjustable bed 10 depending upon a number of factors, such
as the bed size (single, double, queen, king, etc.), the overall
end-to-end length of the tubes, sleeves or pockets 31 32 etc.
However, the transversely spaced pairs of openings 51 52; 51 52
are spaced a distance such that ends 41 41 of the opposing cantilevered
mattress retention clips 40 40 are fully housed in the pockets
or tubes 31 or 32 (FIG. 4) whereby lateral or transverse and longitudinal
shifting or movement of the mattress 25 is virtually eliminated.
After establishing such distances, the pairs of holes 51 52; 51
52 are drilled through the thigh support Ts.
[0030] Reference is made to FIG. 3 which illustrates as STEP 1
the securement of the right-hand mattress retention clip 40 to the
thigh support Ts by passing the bolts 46 47 through the respective
slots 44 45 of the mattress retention clip 40 and through the respective
openings 51 52 (FIG. 4) of the thigh support Ts. The wing nuts
48 49 are then threaded to the respective bolts 46 47 (FIG. 4).
Thereafter, STEP 2 is performed, namely, the mattress 25 is bodily
slid from left-to-right, as viewed in FIG. 3 with the pocket or
tube 32 being aligned with the end portion 41 of the right-hand
cantilevered retention clip 40 allowing the ready insertion of the
end portion 41 of the retention clip 40 progressively into the pocket
32 until the position shown in FIG. 4 is reached. Thereafter, bolts
46 47 are inserted into the respective openings 44 45 of the left-hand
mattress retention bracket 40 as indicated in STEP 3 and the left-hand
mattress retention bracket 40 is aligned with and moved toward the
left-hand end of the pocket 32 until the end portion 41 thereof
has been fully inserted into the pocket 32. During the latter insertion,
the left end of the mattress 25 as viewed in FIG. 3 can be lifted
slightly (5-15 degrees) which is sufficient to view the left side
openings or holes 51 52 and align the bolts 46 47 respectively,
therewith. Thereafter the left-hand end of the mattress 25 can be
progressively lowered to progressively introduce the bolts 46 47
into and through the left-hand pair of openings 51 52 in the thigh
support Ts. The wing nuts 48 49 are then hand-tightened upon the
left-hand pair of bolts 46 47 resulting in the structural relationship
of the retention system 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the attendant
functions of maintaining longitudinal and transverse stability of
the mattress 25 with respect to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs
and Bs.
[0031] Another adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings and is
generally designated by the reference numeral 110.
[0032] The adjustable bed 110 includes a frame or foundation 115
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
116 and a peripheral wall 117 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 118 (FIG.
6) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
corresponding to the bed adjusting mechanism 20 of FIG. 3. The bed
adjusting mechanism includes four relatively movable mattress supports,
namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts, a hip support Hs and
a back support Bs, which are movable between a horizontal uniplanar
position (FIGS. 6 and 7) and any one of a number of relatively adjusted
positions (FIG. 2).
[0033] A mattress 125 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex core
121 (FIG. 6) and a fabric cover or covering 122 defined in part
by an upper fabric covering portion 123 and a lower fabric covering
portion 124.
[0034] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 125 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs, and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 130 and includes
identical pairs of means 131 131; 132 132 for defining respectively
upper and lower pocket means, pockets, sleeves or tubes each defining
axially opposite openings (unnumbered) in one of which is received
a cantilevered end 141 of clip means or bracket means 140 (FIG.
7) for retaining the mattress 125 relatively immobile relative to
the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective of the position
of the mattress supports when moving or in any stationary position
of adjustment thereof. Each of the clip means or cantilevered mattress
retention clips 140 further includes an end 142 remote from the
end 141 and offset relatively thereto by an offset medial portion
143. The end portion 142 of each of the cantilevered mattress retention
clips 140 includes a pair of aligned elongated slots 144 145 through
which pass respective bolts 146 147 (FIG. 7) which pass through
respective openings 151 152 of the thigh support Ts and are held
thereto by thumb screws 148 149 respectively. As is most readily
apparent from FIG. 6 with the end portions 141 141 of the cantilevered
mattress retention clips 140 140 being received in the opposite
ends of the lower pair of tubes or pockets 132 (FIG. 7), the mattress
125 is rendered substantially immobile and cannot slip from or off
the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or Bs, no matter the positions
of the latter. The hold-down system 130 thereby eliminates the use
of conventional foot and/or side mattress retainers and absent the
latter, the adjustable bed 110 has the appearance of a conventional
"normal" bed (FIG. 6) which renders the same much more
marketable because the adjustable bed 110 appears to be a mainstream
conventional bed and thus is more marketable to a larger customer
base.
[0035] Each of the pockets or tubes 131 132 is preferably made
of relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded
or sewn to the respective upper and lower fabric covering portions
123 124 of the mattress cover 122. The fabric material of the pockets
131 132 is very thin, lies substantially flat (pockets 131 of FIGS.
6 and 7) and cannot be readily visually seen or discerned when the
mattress 125 is covered by a mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket
and/or the like, and more importantly a person lying atop the mattress
125 no matter which covering portion 123 124 is uppermost, cannot
"feel" the respective pairs of tubes or pockets 131 132
respectively. Thus, the mattress can be occasionally "flipped"
or turned, as is conventional, and no matter which covering portion
123 124 of the fabric cover 122 is uppermost or lowermost, the
uppermost pair of pockets, tubes or sleeves 131 or 132 will not
be readily seen or felt by a person while the then lower pair of
tubes or pockets 131 or 132 can be connected to the mattress retention
clips 140 140.
[0036] The mattress 125 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 110 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS.
1 through 5 of the drawings. The later descriptions (and corresponding
reference numerals) are hereat incorporated by reference.
[0037] Another adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings and is
generally designated by the reference numeral 210.
[0038] The adjustable bed 210 includes a frame or foundation 215
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
216 and a peripheral wall 217 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 218 (FIG.
8) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
corresponding to the bed adjusting mechanism 20 of FIG. 3. The bed
adjusting mechanism further includes four relatively movable mattress
supports, namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts, a hip support
Hs and a back support Bs, which are movable between a horizontal
uniplanar position (FIGS. 9 and 9) and any one of a number of relatively
adjusted positions (such as FIG. 2).
[0039] A mattress 225 (FIGS. 8 and 9) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex core
221 (FIG. 9) and a fabric cover or covering 222 defined in part
by an upper fabric covering portion 223 and a lower fabric covering
portion 224.
[0040] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 225 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs, and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 230 and includes
identical means 231 232 for defining respectively upper and lower
pocket means, pockets, sleeves or tubes defining axially opposite
openings (unnumbered) in each of which is received a cantilevered
end 241 of clip means or bracket means 240 (FIG. 9) for retaining
the mattress 225 relatively immobile relative to the mattress supports
Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective of the position of the mattress supports
when moving or in any stationary position of adjustment thereof.
Each of the clip means or cantilevered mattress retention clips
240 further includes an end 242 remote from the end 241 and offset
relatively thereto by an offset medial portion 243. The end portion
242 of each of the cantilevered mattress retention clips 240 includes
a pair of aligned elongated slots 244 245 through which pass respective
bolts 246 247 (FIG. 9) which pass through respective openings 251
252 of the thigh support Ts and are held thereto by thumb screws
248 249 respectively. As is most readily apparent from FIG. 8
with the end portions 241 241 of the cantilevered mattress retention
clips 240 240 being received in the opposite ends of the lower
tube or pocket 232 (FIG. 9), the mattress 225 is rendered substantially
immobile and cannot slip from or off the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs and/or Bs, no matter the positions of the latter. The hold-down
system 230 thereby eliminates the use of conventional foot retainer
brackets and absent the latter, the adjustable bed 10 has the appearance
of a conventional "normal" bed (FIG. 8) which renders
the same much more marketable because the adjustable bed 210 appears
to be a mainstream conventional bed and thus is more marketable
to a larger customer base.
[0041] Each of the pockets or tubes 231 232 is preferably made
of relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded
or sewn along opposite longitudinal edges thereof to the respective
upper and lower fabric covering portions 223 224 of the mattress
cover 222. The fabric material of the pockets 231 232 is very thin,
lies substantially flat (pocket 231 of FIGS. 8 and 9) and cannot
be readily visually seen or discerned when the mattress 225 is covered
by a mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket and/or the like, and more
importantly a person lying atop the mattress 225 no matter which
covering portion 223 224 is uppermost, cannot "feel"
the respective uppermost tube or pocket 231 232 respectively.
Thus, the mattress can be occasionally "flipped" or turned,
as is conventional, and no matter which covering portion 223 224
of the fabric cover 222 is uppermost or lowermost, the uppermost
pocket, tube or sleeve 231 or 232 will not be readily seen or felt
by a person while the then lower tube or pocket 231 or 232 can be
connected to the mattress retention clips 240 240.
[0042] The mattress 225 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 210 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS.
1 through 5 of the drawings. The latter description (and corresponding
reference numerals) are hereat incorporated by reference.
[0043] Another adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings and
is generally designated by the reference numeral 310.
[0044] The adjustable bed 310 includes a frame or foundation 315
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
316 and a peripheral wall 317 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 318 (FIG.
10) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
corresponding to the bed adjusting mechanism 20 of FIG. 3. The bed
adjusting mechanism further includes four relatively movable mattress
supports, namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts, a hip support
Hs and a back support Bs, which are movable between a horizontal
uniplanar position (FIGS. 10 and 11) and any one of a number of
relatively adjusted positions (such as FIG. 2).
[0045] A mattress 325 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts,. Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex
core 321 (FIG. 11) and a fabric cover or covering 322 defined in
part by an upper fabric covering portion 323 and a lower fabric
covering portion 324.
[0046] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 325 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs, and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 330 and includes
identical pairs of means 331331; 332 332 for defining respectively
upper and lower pairs of pocket means, pockets, sleeves or tubes
each defining axially opposite openings (unnumbered) in one of which
is received a cantilevered end 341 of clip means or bracket means
340 (FIG. 11) for retaining the mattress 325 relatively immobile
relative to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective
of the position of the mattress supports when moving or in any stationary
position of adjustment thereof. Each of the clip means or cantilevered
mattress retention clips 340 further includes an end 342 remote
from the end 341 and offset relatively thereto by an offset medial
portion 343. The end portion 342 of each of the cantilevered mattress
retention clips 340 includes a pair of aligned elongated slots 344
345 through which pass respective bolts 346 347 (FIG. 11) which
pass through respective openings 351 352 of the thigh support Ts
and are held thereto by thumb screws 348 349 respectively. As
is most readily apparent from FIG. 11 with the end portions 341
341 of the cantilevered mattress retention clips 340 340 being
received in the opposite ends of the lower tube or pocket 332 (FIG.
10), the mattress 325 is rendered substantially immobile and cannot
slip from or off the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or Bs, no
matter the positions of the latter. The hold-down system 330 thereby
eliminates the use of conventional foot retainer brackets and absent
the latter, the adjustable bed 310 has the appearance of a conventional
"normal" bed (FIG. 10) which renders the same much more
marketable because the adjustable bed 310 appears to be a mainstream
conventional bed and thus is more marketable to a larger customer
base.
[0047] Each of the pockets or tubes 331 332 is preferably made
of relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded
or sewn along opposite longitudinal edges thereof to the respective
upper and lower fabric covering portions 323 324 of the mattress
cover 322. The fabric material of the pockets 331 332 is very thin,
lies substantially flat (pocket 331 of FIG. 11) and cannot be readily
visually seen or discerned when the mattress 325 is covered by a
mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket and/or the like, and more importantly
a person lying atop the mattress 325 no matter which covering portion
323 324 is uppermost, cannot "feel" the respective uppermost
tube or pocket 331 332 respectively. Thus, the mattress can be
occasionally "flipped" or turned, as is conventional,
and no matter which covering portion 323 324 of the fabric cover
322 is uppermost or lowermost, the uppermost pocket, tube or sleeve
331 or 332 will not be readily seen or felt by a person while the
then lower tube or pocket 331 or 332 can be connected to the mattress
retention clips 340 340.
[0048] The mattress 325 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 310 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS.
1 through 5 of the drawings. The latter descriptions (and corresponding
reference numerals) are hereat incorporated by reference.
[0049] Another adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings and
is generally designated by the reference numeral 410.
[0050] The adjustable bed 410 includes a frame or foundation 415
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
416 and a peripheral wall 417 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 418 (FIG.
12) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
corresponding to the bed adjusting mechanism 20 of FIG. 3. The bed
adjusting mechanism further includes four relatively movable mattress
supports, namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts, a hip support
Hs and a back support Bs, which are movable between a horizontal
uniplanar position (FIGS. 12 and 13) and any one of a number of
relatively adjusted positions (such as FIG. 2).
[0051] A mattress 425 (FIGS. 12 and 13) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex core
421 (FIG. 13) and a fabric cover or covering 422 defined in part
by an upper fabric covering portion 423 and a lower fabric covering
portion 424.
[0052] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 425 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs, and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 430 and includes
identical means 431 432 for defining respectively upper and lower
interior or inner pocket means, pockets, sleeves or tubes defining
axially opposite openings (unnumbered) in each of which is received
a cantilevered end 441 of clip means or bracket means 440 (FIG.
13) for retaining the mattress 425 relatively immobile relative
to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective of the position
of the mattress supports when moving or in any stationary position
of adjustment thereof. Each of the clip means or cantilevered mattress
retention clips 440 further includes an end 442 remote from the
end 441 and offset relatively thereto by an offset medial portion
443. The end portion 442 of each of the cantilevered mattress retention
clips 440 includes a pair of aligned elongated slots 444 445 through
which pass respective bolts 446 447 (FIG. 13) which pass through
respective openings 451 452 of the thigh support Ts and are held
thereto by thumb screws 448 449 respectively. As is most readily
apparent from FIG. 12 with the end portions 441 441 of the cantilevered
mattress retention clips 440 440 being received in the opposite
ends of the lower tube or pocket 432 (FIG. 13), the mattress 425
is rendered substantially immobile and cannot slip from or off the
mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or Bs, no matter the positions
of the latter. The hold-down system 430 thereby eliminates the use
of conventional foot retainer brackets and absent the latter, the
adjustable bed 410 has the appearance of a conventional "normal"
bed (FIG. 12) which renders the same much more marketable because
the adjustable bed 410 appears to be a mainstream conventional bed
and thus is more marketable to a larger customer base.
[0053] Each of the pockets or tubes 431 432 is preferably made
of relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded
or sewn to inner surfaces (unnumbered) of the respective upper and
lower fabric covering portions 423 424 of the mattress cover 422.
Slits or openings S1 S1 are formed through the uppermost and lowermost
fabric portions 423 424 of the mattress cover 422 immediately adjacent
the openings (unnumbered) of the pockets 431 432. The end portions
441 441 of the mattress retention clips 440 440 pass through the
slits S1 S1 (FIG. 13) during the introduction thereof into the
interior pockets 431 432. The fabric material of the inner pockets
431 432 is very thin, lies substantially flat (pocket 431 of FIGS.
12 and 13) and cannot be readily discerned, particularly when the
mattress 425 is covered by a mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket
and/or the like, and more importantly a person lying atop the mattress
425 no matter which covering portion 423 424 is uppermost, cannot
"feel" the respective uppermost inner tube or pocket 431
432 respectively. Thus, the mattress can be occasionally "flipped"
or turned, as is conventional, and no matter which covering portion
423 424 of the fabric cover 422 is uppermost or lowermost, the
uppermost inner pocket, tube or sleeve 431 or 432 will not be readily
seen or felt by a person while the then lower tube or pocket 431
or 432 can be connected to the mattress retention clips 440 440.
[0054] The mattress 425 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 410 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS.
1 through 5 of the drawings. The latter descriptions (and corresponding
reference numerals) are hereat incorporated by reference.
[0055] Another adjustable bed constructed in accordance with this
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings and
is generally designated by the reference numeral 510.
[0056] The adjustable bed 510 includes a frame or foundation 515
of a relative rigid construction which may include casters or legs
516 and a peripheral wall 517 which preferably includes a quilted
covering Qc and defines an interior chamber or housing 518 (FIG.
14) in which is conventionally supported a bed adjusting mechanism
corresponding to the bed adjusting mechanism 20 of FIG. 3. The bed
adjusting mechanism further includes four relatively movable mattress
supports, namely, a leg support Ls, a thigh support Ts, a hip support
Hs and a back support Bs, which are movable between a horizontal
uniplanar position (FIGS. 14 and 15) and any one of a number of
relatively adjusted positions (such as FIG. 2).
[0057] A mattress 525 (FIGS. 14 and 15) is supported upon the mattress
supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs and includes a one-piece foam latex core
521 (FIG. 15) and a fabric cover or covering 522 defined in part
by an upper fabric covering portion 523 and a lower fabric covering
portion 524.
[0058] A hold-down system constructed in accordance with this invention
for holding the mattress 525 upon the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs, and Bs is generally designated by the referenced 530 and includes
identical pairs of means 531 532 for defining respectively upper
and lower pairs of inner or interior pocket means, pockets, sleeves
or tubes each defining transversely remote axially opposite openings
(unnumbered) in one each of which is received a cantilevered end
541 of clip means or bracket means 540 (FIG. 15) for retaining the
mattress 525 relatively immobile relative to the mattress supports
Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs irrespective of the position of the mattress supports
when moving or in any stationary position of adjustment thereof.
Each of the clip means or cantilevered mattress retention clips
540 further includes an end 542 remote from the end 541 and offset
relatively thereto by an offset medial portion 543. The end portion
542 of each of the cantilevered mattress retention clips 540 includes
a pair of aligned elongated slots 544 545 through which pass respective
bolts 546 547 (FIG. 15) which pass through respective openings
551 552 of the thigh support Ts and are held thereto by thumb screws
548 549 respectively. As is most readily apparent from FIG. 15
with the end portions 541 541 of the cantilevered mattress retention
clips 540 540 being received in the opposite ends of the lower
tube or pocket 532 (FIG. 15), the mattress 525 is rendered substantially
immobile and cannot slip from or off the mattress supports Ls, Ts,
Hs and/or Bs, no matter the positions of the latter. The hold-down
system 530 thereby eliminates the use of conventional foot retainer
brackets and absent the latter, the adjustable bed 510 has the appearance
of a conventional "normal" bed (FIG. 14) which renders
the same much more marketable because the adjustable bed 510 appears
to be a mainstream conventional bed and thus is more marketable
to a larger customer base.
[0059] Each of the pockets or tubes 531 532 is preferably made
of relatively strong fabric material which is adhesively bonded
or sewn to the respective upper and lower fabric covering portions
523 524 of the mattress cover 522. Slits or openings S1 S1 are
formed through the uppermost and lowermost fabric portions 523
524 of the mattress cover 522 immediately adjacent the openings
(unnumbered) of the pockets 531 532. The end portions 541 541
of the mattress retention clips 540 540 pass through the slits
S1 S1 (FIG. 15) during the introduction thereof into the interior
pockets 531 532. The fabric material of the pockets 531 532 is
very thin, lies substantially flat (pocket 531 of FIG. 15) and cannot
be readily visually seen or discerned when the mattress 525 is covered
by a mattress overlay, a sheet, blanket and/or the like, and more
importantly a person lying atop the mattress 525 no matter which
covering portion 523 524 is uppermost, cannot "feel"
the respective uppermost tube or pocket 531 532 respectively.
Thus, the mattress can be occasionally "flipped" or turned,
as is conventional, and no matter which covering portion 523 524
of the fabric cover 522 is uppermost or lowermost, the uppermost
pocket, tube or sleeve 531 or 532 will not be readily seen or felt
by a person while the then lower tube or pocket 531 or 532 can be
connected to the mattress retention clips 540 540.
[0060] The mattress 525 is also readily assembled to the adjustable
bed 510 and specifically to the mattress supports Ls, Ts, Hs and/or
Bs thereof in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS.
1 through 5 of the drawings. The latter descriptions (and corresponding
reference numerals) are hereat incorporated by reference.
[0061] Various structural alternatives will be apparent to a person
skilled in the art after having reviewed the latter descriptions
of the various embodiments of the present invention. For example,
though the mattress retaining clips 40 40; 140 140; etc., have
been described as being secured in pairs to the thigh support Ts,
the same can be as well secured to any one of the other mattress
supports Ls, Hs and/or Bs. Furthermore, instead of utilizing two
opposing pairs of mattress retention clips 40 40; 140 140 two
or more pairs of the mattress retention clips 40 40; 140 140
etc., can be utilized with each pair being preferably secured to
one of the supports Ls, Ts, Hs and Bs. For example, in the embodiment
of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 a second pair of the mattress
retention clips 40 40 can be secured to the back support Bs or
to the leg support Ls or to both.
[0062] The strip of material 231 232 of FIGS. 8 and 9 of the mattress
225 which are sewn or otherwise secured to the exterior of the mattress
cover 222 can as well be sewn to the interior surfaces thereof which
would merely require a slit S1 to be formed in the cover portions
223 224 adjacent the ends (unnumbered) of the interior "tubes"
or "pockets 231 232. The latter structure would correspond
substantially identically to that heretofore described with respect
to the respective sleeves, tubes or pockets 431 432 of FIGS. 12
and 13.
[0063] The pairs of tubes or pockets 131 132; 333 332 can also
be closed at innermost ends by transverse stitching such that each
of the latter pockets has a closed or "blind" end. The
transverse stitching achieves additional reinforcement. Like reinforced
stitching may also be applied in the area of the slits S1 S2 for
reinforcement purposes.
[0064] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood
that minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended
claims. |