Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02488445 2004-11-25
Mattress with Layer
This invention relates to a mattress with layer for a piece of furniture
on which to lie, in particular a bed frame with slatted base, which mattress
is
provided with holding elements, to which at least one layer, able to be put on
s the mattress and provided with fixing means, is removably attachable.
To adapt mattresses to the needs of the user as much as possible,
these mattresses can be provided with layers having desired features. A
mattress, which is constructed substantially of a core material and is
provided
with a covering, can thereby be specially designed through the selection of
io particular layers, which are put on this mattress.
To prevent these layers from sliding back and forth on the mattress
and from possibly forming creases, which could have a negative effect on the
well-being of the person lying on the mattress, it is necessary to fix these
layers
to the mattress. Known is to use zippers as fixing means, for example. One
Is part of a completely separable zipper is hereby attached to the mattress,
while
the other part is attached to the layer. Thus the layer can be connected to
the
mattress via this zipper or a plurality of zippers.
With this type of attachment there is the drawback that the zipper
parts have to be attached to the mattress, or respectively to the layer, in
such a
2o way that they coincide exactly. If another layer is supposed to be placed
on the
mattress and connected thereto, this layer must be provided with corresponding
zipper elements. A fabrication of this kind is relatively complicated. In
addition,
the respective zipper element is present on both the mattress and the layer
when the layer is removed, which can be disadvantageous, for example during
zs cleaning. Moreover if both sides of the mattress are provided with zipper
elements of this kind, these scratch on the support underneath, which is
undesirable. Furthermore, this attachment possibility has the drawback that in
particular in the case of mattresses which lie on a frame substructure, the
head
portion and foot portion of which are adjustable, the layer has creases in the
3o bending region, or is excessively stretched in the stretched region of the
mattress, which can have a negative effect on lying comfort.
CA 02488445 2004-11-25
Instead of zippers, hook and loop fasteners can also be used, in a
known way. These have the drawback, however, of soiling, which diminishes
adhesion. Moreover, the sound during separation of the adhesive elements is
often found to be disturbing.
The object of the present invention is thus to create an attachment
system for a mattress with a layer placeable thereon, which system makes it
possible to fix the layer to the mattress in an optimal way, even when the
mattress is buckled or bent. In addition, this attachment system should be
flexible in application.
to The object is achieved, according to the invention, in that each
holding element is made up of a long stretched-out, substantially
longitudinally
stable, flexible element, of which in each case two first regions are
connected
to the mattress, while the second region, situated in-between, is free, which
holding elements are fixed at the edge region of the top side and/or of the
is bottom side of the mattress at least over a portion of the periphery, and
the
respective spacing between two second regions is substantially constant, and
the fixing means are installed on the edge region of the layer and are
disposed
such that they each come to lie substantially opposite a second region of the
holding elements, and these fixing means are connectible to the corresponding
2o second regions of the holding elements.
Achieved thereby is that the layer can be attached to the mattress in
an optimal way, even when this layer has longitudinal changes on the surface
owing to the adjustment possibility for head and foot portions.
Preferably, the respective mutual spacing of the fixing means
2s corresponds to a whole number multiple of the spacing between two second
regions of the holding elements. The fixing means can thus be provided where
they are necessary, and are always installed in a suitable way in relation to
the
second regions of the holding elements.
Preferably, the long stretched-out element extends over at least a
3o portion of the holding elements, a second free region alternately following
a first
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3
region connected to the mattress. The attachment of the holding elements to
the mattress can thereby be simplified.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the long
stretched-out element is installed on a longitudinal edge region of a first
strap,
s the other longitudinal edge region of which is connected, in particular
sewn, to a
covering with which the mattress is provided. The installation of the holding
elements on the mattress is thereby simplified.
Preferably, the fixing means of the layer also comprise at least one
further long stretched-out, substantially longitudinally stable, flexible
element,
to which also has first regions, that are connected to the layer, and second,
free
regions, that are each situated between two first regions, and which second
regions have a substantially constant spacing apart from one another, which
spacing corresponds to the mutual spacing of the second regions of the holding
elements. The fixing means of the layer and the holding elements of the
Is mattress thus have the same basic element, simplifying manufacture and
application.
In a preferred embodiment, the further long stretched-out element is
likewise installed on a longitudinal edge region of a second strap, the other
longitudinal edge region of which is connected, in particular sewn, to a
covering
2o with which the layer is provided. The attachment of the layer is also
thereby
simplified.
In a preferred embodiment, the fixing means further comprise
connecting elements, which are held by their one end on the further long
stretched-out element in each case in a second region, while the other end has
2s the shape of a hook, which is hookable in the second region of the long
stretched-out element of the holding elements. Thereby obtained in an
advantageous way is a very simple and adaptable attachment possibility.
Preferably, at least the further long stretched-out element is provided
as a cord with a predetermined thickness d. The one end portion of the
3o connecting element, designed as further hook, whose end is provided with a
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protrusion with which the opening of the further hook is partially closed, can
be
clipped onto this cord. An unintentional unhooking of the connecting element
is
thereby prevented. However, the connecting elements can nevertheless be
thereby removed in a simple way, both from the mattress and from the layer,
s e.g. for cleaning.
The connecting elements are preferably made of an elastic synthetic
material, whereby an easy clipping on to the cord can be achieved, and a
simple and cost effective manufacturing can be facilitated.
An embodiment of the invention will be explained more closely in the
~o following, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings.
Figure 1 shows in a three-dimensional view the holding elements
and the fixing means, which are each attached to a strap, and are connected to
one another via connecting elements;
Figure 2 shows a sectional view through a corner region of the
~s mattress with placed-on layer and with the holding elements and the fixing
means;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view according to Figure 2, in which a
connecting element for connecting the holding elements to the fixing means is
represented;
2o Figure 4 shows in a three-dimensional view a mattress on which
holding elements have been disposed;
Figure 5 shows in an enlarged view a corner region of the mattress
according to Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows in a three-dimensional view a layer on which the
zs fixing means have been installed;
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S
Figure 7 shows in an enlarged view a corner region of the layer
according to Figure 6; and
Figure 8 shows in a three-dimensional view a mattress with layer,
with adjustable head and foot portion.
s Shown in Figure 1 in a three-dimensional view are the holding
elements 1 and the fixing means 2. The holding elements 1 are attached to a
first strap 3, while the fixing means 2 are installed on a second strap 4. As
will
be shown later, the first strap 3 is connected to the mattress, while the
second
strap 4 is connected to a layer, as will also be shown later.
to The holding elements 1 and the fixing means 2 comprise a long
stretched-out, substantially longitudinally stable, flexible element 5 or
respectively 6, each of which is formed, for example, by a cord with a
predetermined thickness d (Figure 2). Of course these long, stretched-out
elements 5 or respectively 6 could also be of different design, for instance
is shaped as strips, ribbons, or bands. Each of these long, stretched-out
elements 5 and 6 is connected in each case along first regions 7 or
respectively
8 to the first strap 3 or respectively to the second strap 4, while there
exist
between these first regions 7 or respectively 8 second regions 9 or
respectively
in which the long stretched-out element 5 or respectively 6 is free. The
2o second regions 10 of the long stretched-out element 6 of the fixing means 2
come to lie in Figure 1 on the lower side (not visible) of the second strap 4.
The
attachment of the long stretched-out element 5 to the first strap 3 and of the
long stretched-out element 6 to the second strap 4 can take place by sewing on
in the first regions 7 or respectively 8. If the first strap 3 and the second
strap 4
2s are made of fabric, it is also conceivable for these long stretched-out
elements
5 or respectively 6 to be each interwoven at a longitudinal edge area 11 of
the
first strap 3 or respectively of the second strap 4. The attachment of the
long
stretched-out elements 5 and 6 must be such that a longitudinal displacement
is impossible.
3o The first regions 7 and the second regions 9 of the first strap 3 are
disposed such that the respective spacing between two second regions is
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constant, and has a length a. The respective length of the first regions 7 and
of
the second regions 9 are of approximately equal size, and amount to about 1 to
2 cm in this embodiment example.
In a corresponding way, the further long stretched-out element 6 is
s disposed on the second strap 4 such that here, too, the second regions 10
have a constant spacing from one another, having a length b. The two
spacings a and b are the same in this embodiment example; the first regions 8
and the second regions 10 of the fixing means 2 are likewise of about equal
length. The length corresponds to the length of the first regions 7 and of the
io second regions 9 of the holding elements 1.
For connection to one another, the holding elements 1 and the fixing
means 2 are aligned parallel to one another, as will be seen later, a first
region
8 of the fixing means 2 being opposite a first region 7 of the holding
elements 1
in each case, and consequently a second region 10 of the fixing means 2 being
is opposite a second region 9 of the holding element 1. Inserted in the
further
long stretched-out element 6 of the fixing means 2 is a connecting element 12,
which will be described later, by the one end portion 13, while the other end
portion 14 can be hung in the long stretched-out element 5 of the holding
elements 1 in a second free region 9.
2o As follows from Figure 1, the connecting elements 12 can thus be
installed at any place on the further long, stretched-out element 6 in a free
region 10 of the fixing means 2, and can be hung in the long stretched-out
element 5 in the facing second region 9 of the holding element 1. As many
connecting elements can be used as are necessary, and they can be used
Zs where necessary. The use of the connecting elements can thus be very
flexibly
designed.
Shown in Figure 2 is a corner region of a mattress 15 and of a layer
16. The core material of the mattress 15 is provided with a covering 17 having
a first part 18 which extends over the edge region of the mattress 15 and
3o comprises in each case a further part 19, that covers the top side or
respectively the bottom side of the mattress 15. Sewn in the connecting seam
CA 02488445 2004-11-25
between first part 18 and further part 19 of the covering is the other
longitudinal
edge region 20 of the first strap 3. The long stretched-out element 5 thus
lies
free on the mattress 15, outside the covering 17.
The layer 16 is also provided with a covering 21, in the connecting
s seam of which the other longitudinal edge region 22 of the second strap 4 is
sewn in a corresponding way as with the mattress 15. Here, too, the long,
stretched-out element 6 lies free on the surface of the layer 16.
Seen in Figure 3 is a connecting element 12, which serves to
connect the long, stretched-out element 5 to the long, stretched-out element
6.
io This connecting element 12 has an end regionl3 which is designed as a
further
hook 23. This hook 23 is provided at its end with a protrusion 24 with which
the
opening of the further hook 23 is partially closed. This further hook 23 is
clipped over the long stretched-out element 6 of the fixing means 2 disposed
on
the layer 16; the connecting element is held on the long-stretched out element
is 6 by means of the protrusion 24.
The other end region 14 has the shape of a hook 25, which can be
hung in a conventional way in the long stretched-out element 5 of the holding
elements 1, which are fixed to the mattress. By means of this design of the
connecting element, this element normally remains held on the fixing means 2
20 of the layer. To release the connection between mattress 15 and layer 16,
the
hook 25 is normally disengaged from the long stretched-out element 5. To
clean the layer 16, the connecting element 12 can be removed from the fixing
means 2, however. Since the connecting elements are made out of an elastic
synthetic material, the hook 23 can be bent in order to be taken out of the
long
2s stretched-out element 6, so that the long stretched-out element 6 can slide
through under the protrusion 24.
Of course the connecting element 12 can also be installed in
reversed position, i.e. the further hook 23 is clipped on over the long
stretched-
out element 5 of the holding elements 1, while the hook 25 is hung on the long
so stretched-out element 6 of the fixing means 2.
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Seen in Figures 4 and 5 is the mattress 15. In this embodiment, the
holding element 1 is run over the entire periphery of the mattress 15. The
bottom side of the mattress 15, which is not visible, can also be provided
with
holding elements 1 in a corresponding way. Of course it would be conceivable
s not to run the holding elements 1 over the entire periphery of the mattress
15,
but instead these means could also be installed strip-wise at the
corresponding
place on the mattress.
The layer 16 is provided with fixing means 2 in a corresponding way,
as can be seen from Figures 6 and 7. Here, too, the fixing means 2 could be
io installed on the top side and on the bottom side of the layer 16; this is
normally
not necessary, however.
Figure 8 shows a mattress 15 in which head portion and foot portion
are raised. With the attachment system described in the foregoing, an optimal
connection between the Layer 16 and the mattress 15 can be maintained even
is in this kind of position of the mattress 15. On the one hand, through the
design
of the connecting elements, it is possible for a certain longitudinal
displacement
to take place of the holding elements with respect to the fixing means and
thus
of the layer 16 with respect to the mattress 15. On the other hand, in a
configuration of this kind, the connecting elements can be inserted in the
2o holding elements, or respectively fixing means, at the appropriate place in
each
case.
With this system, an intermediate layer can still be placed between
layer and mattress, which intermediate layer can have particular features. In
this way a mattress can be provided with layers in practically any desired
2s fashion, which layers can have practically any desired features. By means
of
corresponding selection, the needs of a person lying on the mattress can be
fulfilled in practically any way desired.
In particular, the holding elements on the mattress can also be used
for other purposes. For instance, fitted sheets or mattress protection covers
3o can be hung with hooks in these holding elements, these layers being held
on
the mattress in an optimal way. It is also possible, for example in the case
of a
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double bed, to connect two mattresses to each other through the use of
additional connecting elements which are provided with hooks at their ends. It
is also conceivable for several layers to be put on a mattress and to be able
to
be fixed thereto; the layers could be connected to one another if the fixing
s means are provided in each case on the top and bottom side of these layers.
