Mattress Support System

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/300,178 filed Feb. 26, 2016, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “Mattress Raiser” which is incorporated herein by reference as though the same were set forth in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of sleep comfort, and more specifically to the field of a mattress support system enhancing support comfort of the mattress and preventing an individual from falling off the bed during sleep.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nothing is so good for what ails a person as a good night's sleep, but a good night's sleep is hard to get. Sleep deprivation increases one's stress and reduces productivity. Lack of sleep leads to health problems including fatigue, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, a shortened lifespan, suppressed immune systems and depression, and recent studies implicate sleep deprivation in diabetes. Individuals sleep an average of approximately six and one half hours per night almost an hour less than a few decades ago. And if a good night's sleep is hard to get, consider the plight of those individuals, whether elderly, disabled, or young children, for whom the bed itself is a health hazard. Taking a fall from a bed to a floor is a traumatic experience and can cause injury.

The prior art has put forth several designs for mattress support enhancing forms. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,130 to William H. Wilson describes a bed pad wedge system for inhibiting a person from falling out of bed. The system includes a fitted mattress pad fastened to a mattress. Each lateral edge of the fitted pad has pockets located therein that contain foam rubber wedges having the shape of an obtuse triangle. The pockets are installed on an underside of the fitted pad and are facing an outer edge of the mattress. The triangular foam rubber wedges are each encased in a slippery material to aid in installing the wedges in the pockets. A third wedge or triangle is installed in the middle of a mattress between the outer wedges that are located at each edge of the mattress. The wedge system is coverable by standard sheets and bedding.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,228 to Carolyn B. Bishop describes a bed guard for temporary use to reduce the risk of falling out of bed by comprising at least one elongated bolster operatively assembled on top of a conventional mattress and releasably held in operative position along one side of the bed by a conventional bedsheet covering the mattress and the bolster and tucked under the mattress. A plurality of bolsters are used on each side of the bed for additional protection.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,326 to Donald C. Spann describes an apparatus for positioning and protecting a patient in bed. The apparatus includes a protective device for cushioning a side frame of a hospital bed and the like. The protective device includes an elongated strip having a slot accommodating placement over the side frame and a thickened portion serving as a cushion. A body positioner formed from a block of polyurethane foam has resilient characteristics capable of deformation and has a length substantially greater than its width whereby the block is placed on a base surface to provide a continuous support for the major portion of a patient's body while lying in bed. In a preferred embodiment, a core of the positioning block is cut out and is removed and utilized as the protective side frame cushion while the body positioner block is utilized to position the patient as desired.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mattress support system installed between a mattress and a box spring or other the mattress foundation and simultaneously functions to enhance support comfort of the mattress and prevent an individual from failing off the bed during sleep.

A mattress support system for raising a portion of a mattress. The mattress has a head end, a foot end, and a pair of side edges. The mattress rests on a mattress foundation. The mattress support system comprises a triangular-shaped first wedge member having a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end surface and a triangular-shaped second wedge member having a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end surface. At least one strap is mounted between the first wedge member and the second wedge member. Upon positioning the first wedge member lengthwise along one side edge of the mattress between the mattress foundation and the mattress and upon positioning the second wedge member lengthwise along the other side edge of the mattress, spaced from the first wedge member to an extent of the at least one strap, between the mattress foundation and the mattress, the side edges of the mattress are raised relative to remaining portions of the mattress thereby enhancing support comfort of the mattress and inhibiting falling off the mattress.

In addition, the present invention includes a method for raising a portion of a mattress with the mattress having a head end, a foot end, and a pair of side edges and the mattress resting on a mattress foundation. The method composes providing a triangular-shaped first wedge member, providing a triangular-shaped second wedge member, mounting at least one strap between the first wedge member and the second wedge member, positioning the first wedge member lengthwise along one side edge of the mattress between the mattress foundation and the mattress, positioning the second wedge member lengthwise along the other side edge of the mattress, spaced from the first wedge member to an extent of the at least one strap, between the mattress foundation and the mattress, raising the side edges of the mattress relative to remaining portions of the mattress, enhancing support comfort of the mattress, and inhibiting failing off the mattress.

The present invention further includes a mattress support system for raising a portion of a mattress with the mattress having a head end, a foot end, and a pair of side edges and the mattress resting on a mattress foundation. The mattress support system comprises a triangular-shaped first wedge member having a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end surface and a triangular-shaped second wedge member having a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, a bottom surface, a top surface, and an end surface. A first adjustable strap extends between the first wedge member and the second wedge member with the first adjustable strap mounted to and positioned nearingly adjacent the first end of the first wedge member and mounted to and positioned nearingly adjacent the first end of the second wedge member. A second adjustable strap extends between the first wedge member and the second wedge member with the second adjustable strap mounted to and positioned nearingly adjacent the second end of the first wedge member and mounted to and positioned nearingly adjacent the second end of the second wedge member A groove is formed in the end surface of each wedge member. Upon positioning the first wedge member lengthwise along one side edge of the mattress between the mattress foundation and the mattress and upon positioning the second wedge member lengthwise along the other side edge of the mattress, spaced from the first wedge member to an extent of the at least one strap, between the mattress foundation and the mattress, the side edges of the mattress are raised relative to remaining portions of the mattress thereby enhancing support comfort of the mattress and inhibiting falling off the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mattress support system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed above a box spring, showing mattress riser pads or foam wedges, adjustable connecting straps, buckles, and recessive grooves.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mattress support system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed above a box spring and beneath a fop mattress, showing the sides of the mattress slightly raised by the foam wedges to prevent sleepers from falling from the bed during sleep.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, hereinafter referred to as a Mattress Support System, indicated generally at 10, configured for installation between a mattress 12 and a box spring or other mattress foundation 14, such as a board or the floor. While functioning particularly to prevent at risk individuals from falling, rolling or sliding off a bed 12, the Mattress Support System 10 enhances a supportive quality of any mattress 12, providing a better nights sleep to ail users.

The Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention includes a first wedge member 16 and a second wedge member 18. Preferably, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 are substantially triangular-shaped with each of the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 having a first end 20, a second end 22 substantially opposite the first end 20, a bottom surface 24, a top surface 26, and an end surface 28. Preferably, the bottom surface 24 is substantially perpendicular to the end surface 28. In addition, preferably, the angle between the bottom surface 24 and the top surface 26 is between thirty (30°) degrees and sixty (60°) degrees to better angle the edges of the mattress 12, as will be described below, although having the angle between the bottom surface 24 and the top surface 26 being less than thirty (30°) degrees and greater than sixty (60°) degrees is within the scope of the present invention.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface 24 of the first wedge member 16 and the bottom surface 24 of the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention are substantially planar allowing the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 to lie flat against the mattress foundation 14 thereby creating the maximum surface to surface contact area for greater friction and less movement of the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 relative to the mattress foundation 14. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the top surface 26 of the first wedge member 16 and the top surface 26 of the second wedge member 18 can be either planar or curved, allowing the mattress 12 to substantially conform to the top surface 26, as will be described in further detail below.

The first wedge member 16 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention is positioned lengthwise along one side of the mattress 12 between the mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12 with the first end 20 positioned at the head of the mattress 12, the second end 22 positioned at the foot of the mattress 12, the bottom surface 24 contacting the mattress foundation, the top surface 26 contacting the mattress 12, and the end surface 28 facing in a generally outward direction away from the box spring or mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12. The second wedge member 18 is positioned lengthwise along the other side of the mattress 12, spaced from the first wedge member 16, between the mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12 with the first end 20 positioned at the head of the mattress 12, the second end 22 positioned at the foot of the mattress 12, the bottom surface 24 contacting the mattress foundation 14, the top surface 26 contacting the mattress 12, and the end surface 28 facing in a generally outward direction away from the box spring or mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12.

Preferably, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention are constructed from a foam material that are positionable lengthwise along and beneath each side of a mattress 12, between the mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12 thereby supporting each side of the mattress 12 inhibiting sagging and preventing a user from rolling, sliding or failing off the bed. In particular, preferably the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 are constructed from a polymer material commonly known as memory foam although constructing the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 from other material is within the scope of the present invention.

In addition, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention are each encased in its own zippered, form fitting cover to protect the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 from moisture. The form fitting covers are preferably machine washable and machine dryable. In addition, each of the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 are washable by hand and an dryable.

Furthermore, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention are secured together by at least one adjustable strap 30 mounted to the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18. To further secure the Mattress Support System 10 to the mattress 12 when being used with a box spring or other moveable mattress foundation 14, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 can be completely wrapped around the mattress foundation 14 to maintain the desired position of the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 relative to the mattress foundation 14 and mattress 12 and relative to each other. The at least one adjustable strap 30 allows the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 to be positioned along each side of the mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12, respectively, without becoming dislodged from between the mattress foundation 14 and the mattress 12. Additionally, with the adjustable strap 30, the Mattress Support System 10 can be adjusted to fit a variety of mattress sizes including, but not limited to, twin, full, queen, king, and California King.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one adjustable strap 30 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention is connected to the bottom surface 24 of the first wedge member 16 and the bottom surface 24 of the second wedge member 18 thereby maintaining the at least one adjustable strap 30 free from interference with the mattress 12. It should be noted that it is within the scope of the present invention to connect the at least one adjustable strap 30 to any part of the first wedge member 16 and/or the second wedge member 18 is within the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention are secured together by a pair of spaced adjustable straps 30, i.e., a first adjustable strap 30a and a second adjustable strap 30b spaced from the first adjustable strap 30a. The first adjustable strap 30a is mounted to and positioned nearingly adjacent the first end 20 of the first wedge member 16 and the first end 20 of the second wedge member 18 and the second adjustable strap 30b is mourned to and positioned nearingly adjacent the second end 22 of the first wedge member 16 and the second end 22 of the second wedge member 18. In a preferred embodiment, the first adjustable strap 30a and the second adjustable strap 30b are constructed from a nylon material and has corresponding buckles 32 to connect and anchor the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 to each other, uniting the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 into a single, stable support system.

The Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention further includes a groove or channel 34 formed in the end surface 28 of each or the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18. Preferably, each groove 34 is a concave recessive groove 34, approximately one (1″) inch in diameter, which runs the entire length of the first wedge member 16 from the first end 20 to the second end 22 and the entire length of the second wedge member 18 from the first end 20 to the second end 22. The groove 34 are sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a fitted sheet thereby securing the fitted sheet to the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 and over the mattress 12.

The Mattress Support System 10 of the present invention effectively prevents at risk individuals from falling, sliding, or rolling out of bed. The raised border elevation of the mattress 12 created by the first wedge member 16 and the second wedge member 18 of the Mattress Support System 10 accomplish this purpose without using cumbersome bed rails or diminishing a sleeper's comfort. The Mattress Support System 10 augments and firms the support provided by any mattress 12. Durably constructed of high quality materials, the Mattress Support System 10 will withstand many years of continued use.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.