Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BA~G~OUND OE TH~ ~V~NTIQN
A. Field of the I~vention
The pres~nt in~ention relates to a non-electrical re~er~iblo
thermal cu~h$on, and more ~pecific~lly, to a reversible thermal
cushion which cover~, rests on, or r~8t8 in~ide a matt~e~6 or
other body suppor~ ~urface or system.
B. ~e~cription Q~ the Related A~t
There is a growing demand in the marketplac~ for waterbeds.
Dealorc and consumer~ are concerned about safety of electric
heater~ that are sometim~s placed in these waterb~ds. A further
concern i~ the recent disclosure of potential health hazards
related to eleatromagnetic fi~ld radiation generated by the
~lectric resistance heater~ u~ed in waterbeds. Additionally, it
i~ de~irable to ~oid the energy cost- a~ociated with the
electricity reguired to operate ~he he~ter.
An unheated waterbed po6es t~o ma~or problem~. ~irst, the
watQr fill of the wate~bed will ~ottle to the ambient temperature
of the roQm. At a typiaal room tQmpQrature of 70 to 72~, a
waterbed, becau6e of it~ relati~Qly high specific heatr will draw
body heat to the point that a pe~on in the bed wil.l become
uncomfortably cold, ~nd ~n th~ ca~e o~ aged or d~bilitated u6er6
can cau~e hypothonmi~.
Secondly, moi~ture in the ~ir will ~ondense on the surface of
the mattre~s if it i~ at or below the dew point temperature. The
d~w point tamperature near the mattress tends to be high becau6e
o f the combination o f environmental condition6 and wat~r ~apor
emi~ted by pQrsons ~loeping on th- ~ed. Condens2tion, once
for~d, tands to ~uild up m~king t~e sheets and bedding feel damp
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.~d clammy. In extreme C~8Q8, the condQnsation build~ enough to
seep between the mattres~ and the walls of the fram~, where it
cannot rapidly evaporate and thu creat~s condition~ for growth of
mildew and odor~. !
Prior attempts have boon made to 801VC these problem~. T~e~e
attempts h~ve not been altogether successful, becau~e of
condens~tion problem~ or the inability of th~ ln~ulation to breath
thu~ causing ballooning of the mattress. Other att~mpt~ to sol~e
the problem have xeaulted in ~uilting or laminating insulation
material into th~ mattrQs~ cover. ~owQver, quilting rosults in
m~ny needle hola6 which allow mo~stur~ to permeate the in~ulation
laye~. Qu~ltlng or la~lnatlng of the in~ulating layex directly
lnto the quiltod cov~r al80 result6 in mak~ng the thermal ~urfac~
non-roversible ant thus the users cannot alter it~ therm~l
characteri~tics. ~herefore, lt iB deRirable to provide an
improved thormal cover for an unhe~ted waterbed mattre~s and other
~upport suxfaae~ whero warmth i8 des~red, and in the case of a
w~torbed, mu~t ~ impervious to molsture to prevent conden~ation.
Inner3pring, foam and alr mattresses aro not ca~able of being
heat~d ln the ~ame way as a watQrbed mattree~. Primarily, user~
of 6uch mattro~es rely on lectric blanket~ for heating.
Electric blanket~, while con~uming le~6 power than a waterbed
m~ttres~ heater, can pre--nt problems ~uch a~ overheating,
electric shock an~ enersy costs, and al~o produce an
electro~agnetic field. ~h~refore, it i8 àl60 de~irable to ha~e a
xever~ible thermal au~hion to ~over the~e typH~ of mattre~es.
Often two people sh~re a mat~ress surface. People ~ometimes
sensta tomporature diffsrently. Consequ-ntly~ it iB desirabl~ to
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,rovide a system 80 that either persan can ind~vidually have their
choice of te~perature control. It i8 al~o desirable that the
thermal cushion be positioned to provlde comfortable body support,
and further enhance the support provided by ot~er ma~tres~
component~ 6uch as water~ inn~r~pring~ and foam-
Additionally, there i6 a growing demand in th~ markQtplacefor cu~tomized m~ttreB8e~ th~t can be modified ~nd ad~u~ted to the 3
weight and shape of one or more indi~idual6 61eeping on the same
bed. There i~ al~o a growing demand in the marketplace for
~aterbed m~ttre6~e~ th~t pro~ide f1rmer baak support than tho~e
p~e~iously offered. Thero ~8 al~o a gro~ing demand in the market-
place for inner~pring mattresses that h~ve more flexible ~urfaces
that contour and conform to the shape and weight of ~n
individual'~ body~ Cu~tomiz~d ~irmne66 and back 6upport for 1 or
2 people sleeping on a mattress ~g a growin~ market.
The ability to change the firmne~s and back support witho~t
repl~aing ~n entire ma~tre~ is al80 important. Consumers will
~ometime~ ~eep a mattress for as long a~ 10 or 20 years. During
that time the weight and shape o~ thelr bodies often vary based on
weight gainod or 106t~ Waterbeds whil~ they provLde a natural
contouring ~urface that can mold to tho contour of an individuals
welght and shape often do no~ provide the fir~noss and back
~upport nece~ary for proper slQep~ng posture. Many con6umers who
h~d previously bought waterbeds have replaced thQm because they
felt the m~ttre~ses ~agged or ~ecame ~ofter and did not provide
them w~th the same firmness, gupport and comfort as when they
orlglnally purchased the w~ter mnttre~.
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The demand for firm~r b~ck ~upport in a water mattress i~ I
very strong. The dem~nd i8 also 6treng for more com~ortable li
innerspring mattres~es which predominant~y con~ist of ~teel coils
~a~tened together. The construction of the~e type of coil system~
do not permit the natu~al contouring effect on an individual~
body shape or weiyht. A~ a re~ult of t~is, ~he contouring comfort
derived from sleeping on a w~terbed i8 not achieved on most
innerspring mettresses and likewise the firmne~s nece~6ary for
proper back support ~nd comfort 1~ not provided in ~ waterbed
mattre88 .
Certain innerspring constructSons currently availabls provide
lndi~idual coils which do contour to the shspe ~nd wei~ht of an
individual. Howover, theso ¢oils havo had a tendency to ~ag and
not be re6ilient in te~ms of continuing to provide ~irmne~ and
~upport neoessary to keep a consumer happy for a long period of
time. This i8 very ~imilar to th~ so~t ~agginq feel of many
waterbQd mattres~os.
SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION
It is an ob~ect of the inv~ntion to provide an improved
r-versible th-rmal cushion for variou~ sleeping and seating
6urfaces. It i8 a further ob~oct of the in~ention to provide
rever~ible the~m~l cushion for a waterbed mattre~s, ~nd a cushion
which inhibit~ condensation.
It i8 also an ob~ect of the invention to provide a reversible
therm~l cu~hion arrangement ~hich gives two people individ~al
choic-~ of tamperature control.
It i~ al~o an ob~ct of the present invention to provide a
stronger, mor~ uni~orm and aomfortable support.
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It is also an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a
suporior surface feel with underlying finmn~ss and a soft surfaco.
It ~ al~o an ob~ect of the prQs~nt inv~ntion to prov~de an
arrangament which eliminates th~ effsct of a materi~l cover which
pull~ in from a larger area aro~nd the port~ on wh~ch is depre~sed
by a p~r~on's weight.
It i8 ~1BO an ob~ct of the pre~ent ~nvontion to provide ~
feeling of firmmess to enhance a waterbed ~urface, whilo providing
a feeling of ~urface plushnes~ to a more fir~ feeling innerspring,
air, or foam mattress.
It ~ also an ob~ect of the present invention to provide
posture support ~y8tem that i~ reversible ~nd can offer various
d-gre~ of firmne~ by revQrsing the top and bottom s$de of the
~ystom on the top of the entire mattre~ or on the top of eithor
side of the mattress. It also includes a non-electrical thermal
~ystem whiah can be ad~usted on either side of the mattre~s. The
invention also ha~ the adYantage of offering both tho natural
contouring comort of a waterbed mattre~s on ~he top ~urface and
tho firmness of inner~pring support undernoath.
It ls an ob~ect of this invention to provide the irmne~s
normally found in an innerspr~ng and the natural contouring
comfort usually found in a waterbod m~ttro~ in one unique
m~ttress. It i6 also an ob~ective o this invention to provide
the con~umer with a customized ~ttress that is preferable to the
con~umor regaxdle~ of which 6ide of the bod they are sleeping on.
It i6 al~o thQ ~ntention o~ th~6 invention to offer the consumer
tho ability to adjust the firmn~ss on ei~her ~ido of th~ bed by
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imply rever~ing, ~hanging or replacing the po~ture support
systQm.
It i8 also an ob~ective of thi~ in~ention to pro~ide
con6umer~ with the opportunity to change the firmne6~ without
havin~ to replace the entire m~ttress. ~t i6 also an ob~ective of
thi~ invention to provide the consumer wl~h the cho~ce of ~ non-
olectrical heating ~ystem that can be ad~u~table on e~ther ~de of
the bed as part of their customized preference.
Inner~pring mattresses require 6pecial box ~pring
con~truction often different from the innerspring support sy~tem
which as6ists the longevity and comfort le~el of the inner~pring.
The innor6prlng unit however i8 the most critical 6ur~ace for
comfort and BUpport. Thi~ invention eliminates the need for more
oxpen~i~e box ~prlngs and provides for a mo~t comforta~le naturing
aontouring top ~urfsc- supported unde~neath with either a light
weight weter~pring ~ystom or box spring foundation construction
normally ~ound only on innerspr~ng top mattr0s~es.
Additional ob~ect6 and advantage~ of the invention will be
~et forth in part in the description which follow~, a~d in part
will be obviou~ from the descr~pt~on, or may be learnod by
practice of the invention. Th~ ob~ects and ad~antage~ of the
inv~ntion will be roalized and attained by mean6 of the element~
~nd combination~ particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In accordance with the invention, as embodied and broadly
d~6cr~bed herein, a rever~ible thermal cushion co~prises at lea6t
one re~ilient layor, a re1-ctive surface, and means for
containing the re~lient layer~ and the reflecti~e gurface.
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Preferably, the resili~nt layor compri8e8 polyurethan~ fo~m,
and the foam is convoluted on at lea~t one ~ide ~ith domes ha~ing
a di~meter of approxi~ately 2.5 inche~ at their base. Prefer~bly,
the polyurethane foam ha~ ~ den~ity of at least 1.8 lb~.~cubic
foot. The resili~nt layer may also b~ comprised of foam, and/or
polyester fiber stitched togeth~r ~n an appropriate guilt pattern.
Each side of the cusion m~y have a different re~iliency ~o
that tho rosil~ency or other chara~t~ristic of the mattress can be
ad~u~ted by reever~ing t~e cu3hion or replacing it ~ith a
different cushion. For oxample, if more than on- rQ~ nt layer
is used, the layer~ may con~i6t of mRter~als of different
r~iliencies.
Further preferably, the reflectivQ surface comprises metal
vacuu~ depo~ited on one ~ide o a polyothylene film laminated to a
polyurethane layer. Al~o, th~ retaining meanQ ~ pr~ferably
impervious to water, and may be vacuum formed to the contours of
the convoluted foam or guilted pattern of the stitched foam and~or
f~ber ¢ombination. According to one ~pect of the invention, the
mattro~ may includ- ~t least two sido-by-side indiv~dually
reversible thermal cushion~, oach corresponding to an area of the
mattre~s gen~r~lly usod to ~upport a ~inqlo per~on. In ~uch an
arrangement tho r~ver~ibility of the cushion~ can ~llow for each
per60n to individu~}ly ad~ust the the~mal and resiliency
characteristics oS hl~ or her 1de of the mattross.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing goneral
de-~cript~on and th~ follouing detailing description ar~ exemplary
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2077738
.Id explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the ~nvention a~
claimed.
BRI~E DESCRIPTIO~ OF T~ DRANING~
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the ~p~ciicatlon, illu~trate ~everal
embodLments of th~ invention and tog~ther with the description,
serve to explain the principl~ of ths ~n~ention.
Figure 1 deplcts a typLcal ~ot-sid~ waterbed incorporating
the invention.
Figure 2 depicts a typical hard-s~de ~at~rbed lncorporating
th~ invention.
Figure 3 deplct- ono e~bodiment ~ a revers~ble thermal
cushion of the preB~nt inv~ntion.
Figure 4 depicts ~ 6econd embodiment of a r~versible thermal
cushion of the present invention.
Flgure 5 depicts a build-up of a quilted insert ~f a
com~ination of polyester ~ib~r and polyurethane foam of the
pre6ent invention.
~ igure 6 depicts a cont~ining cover o~ the present invention.
Flgure 7 d~picts A vacuum orm-d containin~ cover of th~
pre~ent invention.
Figure~ 8A, 8B and 8C depict mattre~s pads for either hard-
~lde wsterbed~, or conventional mattresse~ which incorporate the
present invention. .
Figure 9 depict~ a variable innerspring-iAsert mattress which
incorporate6 the present inventio~.
~ igure ~0 depict~ a convent~onal inner~pring m~ttre
incorporating the invention a6 an intogral part.
S~P 4 '9Z 17:34 FROM FINNEGRN HENDERSON PRGE.014
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~igur9 11 d~pict3 a foam mattre~s according to thQ inv~ntion.
D~TAIL~D DESCRIPTION QF ~HE P~EFERBED EMBODIM~NT
R~ference ~ill now be made in detail to th~ presently
preferred embodiment~ of the inventio~, examples of which are
illustrated in the accomp~n~ing drawings~ Where~er possible, the
same referen¢e numb~rs will be used throughout the draw~ng to
refer to the 8ame or like parts.
A typical waterbed includes a frame, water bladder or
cylinder~ and tiaking cover. The frame may either b~ a ~oft-s~de
frame, e.g., one ~ade of ~oam, or ~ h~rd-side frame, e.g., one
made of wood.
Figure 1 depict~ a typlcal ~o~t-~ide waterbed 10. The top
tl~king p~nel 12 may be qu~lt~d with a co~binat$on of fiber or
foam. ~icking p~nel 12 is di~po3ed with a mating zipper tewn into
it~ perimeter. The mattress has a lightly quilted side wall 14
which ha~ a m~ting zipper half 8ewn in it~ perimeter. Side wall
1~ i3 fixed to a bottom shoet 16 of fabric which unde~lies the
ontire upper ~tructuro. Foam walls 18 provide outer ~ide
~tructure for the mattress. A safety lin~r 20 of PVC ~heeting
fits withln the caY~ty of t~- frame and overwrap~ the top and
outer ~urface~ of th- foam walla. 31adder8 or cylinder~ 22 hold
water, and are ad~ustable in firmneS~ by increRsing and decreaslng
thR amount of w~ter held therein. Accordin~ to the invention,
rever~ ~ ble thermal cu~hlons lSa and 15b are located bet~een
bladdors 22 and ticking panel 12. Cu~hions 15a snd 15b are extend
to co~er both w~ter bladders 22 and foam wslls 18, and pre~ent
~erson lying on th~ bQd from feeling ~ difference in support ~t
the loc~tion where tha bladders and the foam come togethor.
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Figure 2 depict~ a typical hsrd-~ide wat~rbed 24. In thi~
ca~e, a quilted ticking panel 26 holds in place reversibl~ thermal
cu~hion~ 15a and 15b according to the invention. The quilted
ticking panel 26 and side ~11 28 of the unit have mating zipper
30 permitting easy acce~s to water bladder 22. ~oard~r walls 28
of the cover are ~ewn into fabric bottom 32 which underline~ the
entire 8y8tem. A safety liner 34 i~ de~igned to catch and ~old
w~ter content~ of the mattre~ in the evant of any leakage.
In accord~nce with the invention, a ~eversible thermal
cushion includes ~ resilient layer. A~ embodied h~r~in and shown
in Figure 3, each rever~ible thermal cushion 15 ha~ xQsilient
layer 36 pref-rably made of polyurethane foam. However, the
reoeilient layer may be made of other material~, such as fi~ers,
sprlngs and cotton, a6 known in the art.
Preferably, the poly~rothane foam of th~ resilient layer has
a den~ity of at lea~t 1.8 lb~. per c~bic foot, and an indention
load deflection of not more than 30 lb~. The foam i~ proferably
at l~a~t 1 inch thick and ha~ a convoluted surface with dome~ 38
on one ~ide. Preforably the domos o~ the convoluted ~urface have
~ d~ameter of approxlmately 2.5 inches at th-ir b~se. Preferably,
ba~o section 4n i9 at lea~t O.SO inche# thick and the domes 38 are
at lea~t .50 inche~ tall. $n tho fur~her preferr~d embodiment
~hown in ~igure 4, the cu~hions may have a 3-inch layer of foam
with ~ con~oluted ~urfac- on both sides. The 3-inch foam layer
may be made by putting two 1-1/2 inch foam sections 36 ~ack to
back.
Aacording to on~ a~pect of the invention, the resll~nt layQr
i~ quilted. As ~hown in Figure 5, the re8ilient lay~r 36a i8
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SEP ~ '9Z 17:34 FRO~ FINNEG~N HENDERSON P~GE.016
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,~iltad and includes quilted urethane qu~lting foam 69 and/or
polye~ter filler ~0 held together in a guilted pattern by ~titche
71 6~n through a light welght, non woven fabric, 71A.
In accordance with the invention, a reversible ther~al
cu~hion includes an insulating layer. Aa Qmbodiod herein and
shown in Figure 3, the in~ulating layer 42 compri~s a
polyethylene fil~ which has alumlnum ~or other re~lective
material) vacuum d~poa~ted on one sid~ o~ the film. The film i8
preferably .0025 inches thick. The coated side of the
polyethylene film iB laminated to a layer of polyurethane foam of
between l/B inch and 1/16 inch ~n thickne~s. The preferable
method of laminat$ng 18 by adhesive. In~ulating l~y~r 42 thereby
created has the ad~antage of being flexible, not making
n crinkling~ or othor noi~o~, and preventing bunching, tearing,
stretching and broa~ing when a person lies thereon. In Fig. 3,
insulating layer 42 i~ ~rranged next to thQ resilient layer 36
such that the reflect~ surface (i.e.~ the polyethylene) faces
away from the re~ilient layer.
In the 3-inch re~illent layer embodLment shown in Figure 4,
the ~n~ulating layer 42 may b- ~and~ich~d between the two 1-1/2
inch foam sections. Alternati~ely, insulating layer 42 may be
located next to the re~ilient layer 36 such that the reflective
surfaco faceR away from the resiliQnt layer, a6 in the 1-1/2 inch
foam embodiment.
A reversible thermal cu8hion o f th4 lnvention can, in cold
weather, be arranged such that tho revQrsibl~ thermal cushion i~
placod with the r~flective 6urface faclng a per~on lying on ths
b~d. So placed, the rever~ible thermal cu~hion reflects the
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SEP 4 '9Z 17:35 FR~ FINNEGRN HENDERSON PRGE.017
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~,erson~s body he~t ~ack toward him or her, and increases the
temperature of the area around the per~on by 2-4F a~ compared
with no rever~iblo the~m~l cu~h~on. In addition to warmlng the
porson, this tempor~ture increase mako~ conden~atio~ le~s likely.
In w~rm weather, th- cu~hion m~y be turned ov r ~o that the
reflective layQr does not reflect heat back toward the per~on on
the bed.
In bed6 designed for two p~ople, on~ aspect of the reversible
th~rmal cushlon includes at loast two ~ide-by-~ide individually
rever~iblo thermal cu6hion~ 80 that each person ly~ng on tho b~d
has the option o ~-lecting whother or not they wi~h to avail
th-mwelve~ Or the r-~lecti~e h-at. ~he individually reversible
thermnl cu~h~on allow~ for individual control in beds dQ~igned for
two people.
In accord~nce with the invention, tho revor~iblo thermal
cushion has mean~ for containing the resiliont layer and tho
inculatLng layer. A~ embodim~nt he~ein the containing mean~
inclùde~ two polyvinyl chlorid- t~PVC~) sheets 44 and 46 of
preferably 8-10 ~il. gaugo. These ~heet~ are dielectrically heat
~ealed to each o~har around the ent~ro perimoter, as ~nown in the
~rt. Th- PVC ~hQQts havo the added ~dvantage of providing a two
layer water and ~oisture barrior betwe~n a person lying on the
mattr-~ and th- wator bladder. If ~uch water barrier i8 not
neces~ary or de6$rod, then the containing mean~ may be made out of
other matQr~als known in th- art, ~uch a~ cloth made of natural or
~ynthetic fib-r.
According to onc a~pect o~ the in~ention, mean~ for
containing the re~ilient l~yer and thc reflective layer ~re
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207773~
~acuumed formed around the resilient layer and the refleative
layer for containing the resilient layer and the reflective layer.
Such vacuumed forming pQrmit~ the containing mea~R to be ~ormed to
the contoure of tho resLlient layer 80 a~ to more closely cover
the resilient layer ~nd pro~ide greater comfort. It al~o
eliminate~ the pull~ng ln of ths containing layer from a large
~rea around the portions ~here it i~ depr~ssed by the we~ght of a
person. The vacuum forming Qffoctively provid~ a ~kin over each
ra~sed area which only depre~se~ as th~t area i8 depre~eed.
~hown in Figure 7, ~heet~ 44 and ~6 are vacuum formed to the
contours of the resilient layer ~o a~ to more clo~ely co~er the
re~ilient lay rs and provld- gr-ater comfort.
Preferably, ao ~hown in Figure 6, holes 48 of 1/4-inch
diameter are provided in the PVC sheets to allow layers 36 and 42
to br~athe. Theee holes al~o allow air to e~cape and pre~ent the
containing mean6 from ballooning when a person lies on the
revers~ble therm~l cushlon. C~merci~lly avallabl~ br~ather
button~ can be ~ub~tituted for holee 48.
The aushion may ~180 ha~e ~e~ns for maintaining alignment of
the in~ul~ting l~yer and the re~ilient layer compri~ing pla8tic or
aluminum ri~ets 50 ~nd ua~hexs 52 (~hown in F~gure 3 and 4)
loc~tod nbout th- p-rim ter o~ the convolutod foam panelQ and the
in~ulatinq layer to keep tho6e layers in alignment. Other
ali~nment maintaining mean8 can be used 5uch aR adhesively
laminating or tying the layers together.
According to one a~pect of the invont~ on, there ie provided
at least t~o rever~ible thermal cushions and ~ean~ for releasably
ocuring the thermal cushions in a side-by-side configuration ~o
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2077738
_e to be individ~ally rem~vable a~d reversible. A~ ~hown in Figs.
8A and 8B, the means for securing i8 a ~attre~ pad 72 including
two ~leev~ 74a and 74b for se~uring and ontaining reve~sible
thermal cu6hionY 15a and 15~ re~pectively. Retainer sleeves 74a
and 74b maintain cushions 15a and lSb ~n side-by-~ide alignment,
permit aushions 15a and lSb to be individually remoY~d by sliding
a select~d c~shion out of its resp~ctive sleev~, turning it ovar
and insQrting it in a rever~ed oriQntation for a different thermal
effect. In addition, the cbntinuouc layer of PVC beneath the
~leeves promotes greater aurace continuity . Mattress cover 72
includ~ flaps 76 which as~i~t in s~curing the m~tters ¢over in
po~ition on a mattre6~. Alternatively, as shown ~n Fig. 8C, a
mattres~ co~-r 72a having s}e-ve~ 74c and 74d can be ~itt-~d with
corner attachments &uch as elastic strap~ 54 or other arrangQments
whic~ can be placed around the corners of bedding such as inner
spring, air or foam mattresses.
The rever6ible thermal cushion~ of the invention may be
incorpor2ted into various other kinds of bedding. Figure 9 shows
rev~r6ible thermal cushions in a novel inner~pring insert mattre66
56. Ti¢klng panel 12 cover~ the reversible thorm21 cushion~ lSa
and 15b a¢cording to th- ~nvon~lon. ~o~m wall8 18 pro~ide a
-~upport frame for $nner~pring in~-rt~ 58, 60 and 62. These
in~erts may be de6igned to have different level6 o~ firmness. By
exchanging one $nsert for another one of different firmne~s, a
user can v~ry the firmnes~ of the mattre~ in different areas.
Foam, air, cotton, and ot~er resllient material~ known in the art
may be sub6titut~d for the springs in in~ert~ 58, ~0, and 62.
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SEP 4 ' 92 1 7: 36 FROr1 F I NNEGRN HENDERSON PRGE . 1320
2077~38
Figure 10 ~how~ r~v~rsible thQrmal cushions according to th~
invention u6ed in a conventional inner~prlng mattre~s 64. Quilted
p~nel 26 and lightly quilted sidewalls 28 form a cover for the
~nnerspring sy~tem 66. Rever~ible thermal cushions lSa and 15b
are placed above the 6prings. Access to the insid~ of mattres~ 64
may be provid~d by zipp rs 30. Cus~ion~ 15a and 15b can be
rover6ed by accessing the cushion ~ing zipper 30, or the entire
mattress m~y be r~er~ed if both the to~ and bottom surfaces are
quilt~d. In a mattre8s of thi~ type ~oam, air, cotton, and othe~
resiliQnt materials known ~n the art may be substituted for th~
springs.
Fi~ure 11 depicts a thermal mattress 68 according to the
invention. ~h~rmal mattro88 68 iS similar to the rever6ible
thermal cushion of the invention. Re~ilient layer 36 is made from
polyurethane foam. Preferably, the o~m i~ convoluted on both the
tOp and bottom surfaces. Further pr-ferably, the foam i~
approximately 5 inchQs thick. Insulating layor 42 i~ located
ad~acent to the fo~m layer. ~h~ foam layer and the in~ulat~ng
layer are contained together a~ a unit. In order to vary the
thermal charaater$~tic~ of the mattr-~ zi~per 30 c~n be u~ed to
acco~ the mattre~s, and reslllQnt layer 36 and foam layer 42 may
be re~ersed, or the ontire mattress may be re~er~ed if both the
top and bottQm ~urfaces are quilted, so that the reflective
surface of the insulating layer ~aces away from a p~rson lying on
the bed.
A reversible thermal cushion as described above in connection
with a watsrbsd ~attres6 m~y b~ used in a variety of application~
~uch a~ innerspring mattres~es, foam mattre~ses, air mattresses,
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SEP ~ '9Z 17:36 FRO~ FINNEGRN HENDERSON PRGE.0ZI
2077738
futons, ~ttting surfaces, back cu~h~ons, headrest~, 81eeping bag
in~erts, blankets, recliner~ with ~at and ma~age units, shoe
inserts, carpet underlaying, ch~ir~, 8tadium cush~on~, motion
f~rniture, sle~p ~ofa~, hideaway bods, and medical mAttre~s.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and ~ariations can be made in the rev~rsible thermal
cushion of the present application and in the construction of thi~
cu~hion wi~hout departing from the sco~e or spirit of the
invention.
Other embodi~ents of the in~ention will be apparent to tho~e `~
okilled in tbe ~rt from con~ideration of the speciication and
practico o~ tho inv-nt~on disclosed herein. It is intondsd that
th- spQcification and example8 ~e con6idered as exemplary only,
with a truo ~cope and spirit of the invention ~eing indicated by
the following claims.
