Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS SIDE RAILS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
A claim for priority to the March 9, 2021 filing date of U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application No. 63/158,753, titled ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS SIDE RAILS ("the '753
Provisional Application"), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The
entire
disclosure of the '753 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to internal side edges, or side rails, for
mattresses
and, more specifically, to side rails for mattresses that may be used with
adjustable beds.
Even more specifically, this disclosure relates to side rails with main bodies
that impart
lateral structure to a mattress of which they are a part and compressible
inserts that
facilitate adjustment of the mattress while maximizing contact between a
bottom of the
mattress and an upper supporting surface of an adjustable bedframe. This
disclosure also
relates to mattresses, to adjustable beds, and to associated methods.
RELATED ART
Adjustable beds provide for adjustment of the mattresses thereon and of each
individual laying on the mattress. An adjustable bed typically bends at two or
more
locations across its width to provide three sections that may be oriented for
a variety of
purposes. By way of example, an upper, or head, section of a mattress on an
adjustable
bed may be oriented to position an individual's head and back in a somewhat
upright
orientation, in more reclined orientations, or in a substantially horizontal
orientation. As
another example, a lower, or foot, section of a mattress on an adjustable bed
may be
oriented to position an individual's feet between inclined, horizontal, and
reclined
orientations. An intermediate section of the mattress on an adjustable bed may
provide a
transition between the head section and the foot section.
Conventionally, adjustable beds have found wide use in hospitals, care
centers,
and at other locations where individuals may need assistance in sitting up as
they
convalesce, where it may be desirable to occasionally change an individual's
orientation
as he or she lays in bed, or for other purposes. Individuals also use
adjustable beds at
home, as they many people enjoy laying in non-flat orientations as they rest
or sleep. In
addition, many people have found adjustable mattresses to provide certain
additional
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benefits in helping them obtain a good night's rest, as well as health
benefits, including,
without limitation, the ability to improve breathing during sleep (e.g., by
elevating the
individual's head, neck, and back, etc.).
As a mattress is adjusted, or bent, by an adjustable bedframe, the side rails
of the
mattress are compressed at locations where the top of the mattress is bent
concavely and
stretched at locations where the top of the mattress is bent convexly.
Conventional
mattresses, however, resist such bending, compression, and stretching
somewhat. As a
result, the bottom of a conventional mattress usually does not conform well to
the upper
supporting surface of an adjustable bedframe, particularly at comers where the
upper
supporting surface of the adjustable bedframe is bent concavely, where the
bottom of the
mattress remains suspended above the concavely bent upper supporting surface
of the
adjustable bedframe.
One attempted solution has been to provide mattress-retaining brackets at the
head
and foot ends of adjustable bedframes. Due to their locations, such brackets
are unable to
influence bending at intermediate locations along the length of the mattress.
Other
attempted solutions have been to provide weakened regions (e.g., cutouts,
accordion-like
features, etc.) along the internal side edges, or side rails, of the mattress.
Although
weakened regions reduce the mattress's resistance to bending, they also reduce
the
structural integrity of the side rails.
SUMMARY
In various embodiments, a side rail of an adjustable mattress according to
this
disclosure has a configuration that enables its bottom edge and, thus, a
bottom of a
mattress of which it is a part, to conform to bends in an upper supporting
surface of an
adjustable bedframe.
A side rail according to this disclosure may include a main body with at least
one
upper recess and at least one lower recess, an upper insert within the at
least one upper
recess, and a lower insert within the at least one lower recess. In some
embodiments, the
side rail may include a plurality of upper recesses and corresponding upper
inserts and/or
a plurality of lower recesses and corresponding lower inserts.
Each upper recess may extend downwardly into a top edge of the main body,
partially into the height of the main body, and across an entirety of a width
of the main
body. Each lower recess may extend upwardly into a bottom edge of the main
body,
partially into the height of the main body, and across an entirety of a width
of the main
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body. Without limitation, an upper recess may have the shape of a triangular
prism, a
substantially triangular prism (accounting for more radiused or truncated
corners,
curvatures in surfaces, etc.), a trapezoidal prism, a substantially
trapezoidal prism
(accounting for more radiused or truncated corners, curvatures in surfaces,
etc.), or the
like. A lower recess may have the shape of a triangular prism, a substantially
triangular
prism (accounting for more radiused or truncated corners, curvatures in
surfaces, etc.), a
trapezoidal prism, a substantially trapezoidal prism (accounting for more
radiused or
truncated comers, curvatures in surfaces, etc.), a rectangular prism, a
substantially
rectangular prism (accounting for more radiused or truncated corners,
curvatures in
surfaces, etc.), or the like.
The shape, dimensions, and location of each upper recess and each lower recess
in
the main body of a side rail may enable the upper recess and/or lower recess
to
accommodate bending of a mattress of which the side rail is a part, as well as
enable a
bottom of the mattress to maintain optimal contact with an upper supporting
surface of an
adjustable bedframe that carries the mattress. More specifically, each upper
recess may be
located at a position where an upper supporting surface of the adjustable
bedframe and,
thus, a top of a mattress thereon are expected to be bent at a concave angle.
Each lower
recess may be located at a position where the upper supporting surface of the
adjustable
bedframe and the top of the mattress thereon are expected to be bent at a
convex angle.
The main body may comprise a material having a rigidity that imparts the side
rail
with sufficient structural integrity to laterally support a remainder of the
mattress of
which the side rail is a part. The material of the main body may also be
compressible to
prevent it from detracting from the overall compressibility and comfort
provided by the
mattress of which the side rail is a part.
An upper insert may be provided in each upper recess of the side rail, while a
lower insert may be provided in each lower recess of the side rail. Each upper
insert may
substantially fill its corresponding upper recess. Thus, each upper insert may
have a shape
or configuration that complements, is the same as, or is substantially the
same as a shape
or configuration of the upper recess in which the upper insert is positioned.
Each upper
insert may be secured within its corresponding upper recess in a suitable
manner (e.g.,
with a suitable cement or other adhesive material, etc.). Each lower insert
may
substantially fill its corresponding lower recess. Thus, each lower insert may
have a shape
or configuration that complements, is the same as, or is substantially the
same as a shape
or configuration of the lower recess in which the lower insert is positioned.
Each lower
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insert may be secured within its corresponding lower recess in a suitable
manner (e.g.,
with a suitable cement or other adhesive material, etc.).
A shape of each upper insert and each lower insert and a material from which
each
upper insert and each lower insert is formed may enables the side rail to
readily flex when
the mattress of which it is a part is bent in a corresponding direction. For
example, the
shape and material of each upper insert may enable the side rail to readily
flex when a top
of the mattress is bent concavely at a location where the upper insert is
located. As
another example, the shape and material of each lower insert may enable the
side rail to
readily flex when a top of the mattress is bent convexly at a location where
the lower
insert is located. Without limitation, the shape of each upper insert may be a
triangular
prism, a substantially triangular prism, or the like, while the shape of each
lower insert
may be a triangular prism, a substantially triangular prism, a trapezoidal
prism, a
substantially trapezoidal prism, a rectangular prism, a substantially
rectangular prism, or
the like.
The material from which each upper insert and each lower insert is formed may
be
readily compressible, but have sufficient rigidity to impart the side rail
with acceptable
structural integrity. By way of example only, each upper insert and each lower
insert may
comprise a compressible, resilient material. The compressible, resilient
material may
comprise a foam.
In another aspect, this disclosure includes mattresses that include side rails
according to this disclosure. The side rails of such a mattress may, along
with a base, a
head rail, and a foot rail, define a foundation for a cushioning element of
the mattress.
More specifically, the elements of the foundation may define a receptacle for
the
cushioning element. The cushioning element may comprise coil springs,
pressurizable
bladders, memory foam, or any other suitable cushioning element for a
mattress, or a
combination of cushioning elements.
Additionally, such a mattress may include a gel cushion, such as those
disclosed
by U.S. Patents 7,060,213, 7,076,822, and 8,919,750, the entire disclosures of
which are
hereby incorporated herein. Such a gel cushion may include a plurality of
resiliently
compressible interconnected or intersecting walls defining an array of
interconnected,
resiliently buckling columns, with a void in each column. Stated another way,
the
interconnected or intersecting walls may define an array of hollow columns, or
voids.
Such a gel cushion may be formed from any of a variety of compressible,
resilient
materials, including cushioning foams and elastomeric materials, such as the
extended A
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B A triblock copolymers disclosed by U.S. Patents 6,413,458, 6,797,765, and
7,964,664,
the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein.
In addition, the mattress may include a cover over the foundation, cushioning
element, and any gel cushion over the foundation and cushioning element.
As another aspect, adjustable beds are disclosed. An adjustable bed of this
disclosure includes an adjustable bedframe and a mattress that includes side
rails
according to this disclosure.
Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and
advantages of
various aspects of the disclosure, should be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art
through consideration of the preceding disclosure, the description that
follows, the
accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a side rail that may be included in
an
adjustable mattress;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper recesses and upper inserts of the
embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 1, with
the
top edge of the side rail bent concavely between the two upper recesses and
upper inserts
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view another embodiment of a side rail that may be
included in an adjustable mattress;
FIG. 4B is a top view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4C is a side view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 4A:
FIG. 4D is an end view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a side rail that
may
be included in an adjustable mattress;
FIG. 5B is a top view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5C is a side view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 5A:
FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIG. 5A;
and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the interior of an embodiment of a mattress
that
includes the embodiment of the side rail shown in FIGs. 4A-4D.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIGs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a side rail 10 for an
adjustable
mattress (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) is depicted. The side rail 10
includes a main
body 20 with a top edge 22, a bottom edge 24, a head end 26, and a foot end
28. One or
more upper recesses 30 may open to the top edge 22 of the main body 20 and
extend
toward the bottom edge 24 of the main body 20. One or more lower recesses 40
may open
to the bottom edge 24 of the main body 20 and extend toward the top edge 22 of
the main
body 20. An upper insert 60 may be provided in each upper recess 30. A lower
insert 70
may be provided in each lower recess 40.
A height of the main body 20 and, thus, of the side rail 10 extends between
the top
edge 22 and bottom edge 24 of the main body 20. The main body 20 also includes
an
interior surface 21, which faces an interior of a mattress (not shown in FIG.
1 or FIG. 2)
of which the side rail 10 is a part, as well as an exterior surface 29, which
is opposite
from the interior surface 21 and faces outwardly when the side rail 10 is
assembled with
other components of the mattress. Both the interior surface 21 and the
exterior surface 29
extend between the top edge 22 and the bottom edge 24 of the side rail 20. A
width of the
main body 20 and, thus, of the side rail 10 extends between the interior
surface 21 and
exterior surface 29 of the main body 20.
The main body 20 may be formed from a material having a rigidity that imparts
the side rail 10 with sufficient structural integrity to laterally support a
remainder of the
mattress (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) of which the side rail 10 is a part.
The material
of the main body 20 may also be compressible to prevent it from detracting
from the
overall compressibility and comfort provided by the mattress of which the side
rail 10 is a
part. In a specific embodiment, the main body 20 may comprise a so-called -
structured
foam," which may comprise a compressible foam material with an indentation
load
deflection (ILD) rating of about 35 to about 65 (e.g., 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65,
etc.). An ILD
rating is the amount of pressure, converted to weight in pounds, it takes to
indent a
circular area of 50 square inches (i.e., lbs/50 in2) over a four inch thick
piece of the
structured foam by 25% (i.e., one inch). In a specific embodiment, the main
body 20 may
comprise a high density polyethylene (HDPE) foam.
Each upper recess 30 may extend downwardly into the top edge 22 of the main
body 20, partially into the height of the main body 20, and across an entirety
of the width
of the main body 20. Each upper recess 30 may include: a base 32 adjacent to
but spaced
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apart from the bottom edge 24 of the main body 20; a head surface 34 extending
at a non-
perpendicular angle to the top edge 22, from the top edge 22 to the base 32
and toward
the foot end 28 of the main body 20; and a foot surface 36 extending at a non-
perpendicular angle to the top edge 22, from the top edge 22 to the base 32
and toward
the head end 26 of the main body 20. The base 32 of the upper recess 30 may be
defined
by a junction between the head surface 34 and the foot surface 36 of the upper
recess 30.
In some embodiments, that junction may be radiused (e.g., it may comprise an
arc of a
circle, etc.) or otherwise rounded. Alternatively, the base 32 of the upper
recess 30 may
be elongated. An elongated base 32 may be substantially parallel to the bottom
edge 24 of
the main body 20.
Each upper recess 30 may be positioned at a location along the length of the
main
body 20 of the side rail 10 where the top of the mattress (not shown in FIG. 1
or FIG. 2)
is expected to be bent concavely. For example, each upper recess 30 may be
positioned at
a location that will be superimposed over a joint between a head section and
an
intermediate section of an adjustable bedframe (not shown in FIG 1 or FIG. 2).
Alternatively, a plurality of upper recesses 30 may be positioned locations
that will be
superimposed with an area on both sides of a joint between the head section
and the
intermediate section of the adjustable bedframe. As illustrated by FIGs. 1 and
2, the upper
recesses 30 are positioned between or at a transition between ahead portion 12
of the side
rail 10 and an intermediate portion 14 of the side rail 10.
The side rail 10 may include a main body 20 with a plurality of upper recesses
30.
In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, the side rail 10 may include two
upper
recesses 30. In the embodiment of side rail 10' shown in FIGs. 4A-4D, the main
body 20'
may include four upper recesses 30'. Regardless of how many upper recesses 30
are
included, they may be grouped together.
With continued reference to FIGs. 1 and 2, each lower recess 40 in the bottom
edge 24 of the main body 20 of the side rail 10 extends upwardly from the
bottom edge
24 into the main body 20, partially into the height of the main body 20, and
across an
entirety of the width of the main body 20. Each lower recess 40 may include: a
top 42
adjacent to but spaced apart from the top edge 22 of the main body 20; a head
surface 44
extending at an angle (e.g., a non-perpendicular angle, a perpendicular angle,
etc.) to the
bottom edge 24, from the bottom edge 24 to the top 42 of the main body 20 and,
in
embodiments where the angle is a non-perpendicular angle, toward the foot end
28 of the
main body 20; and a foot surface 46 extending at an angle (e.g., a non-
perpendicular
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angle, a perpendicular angle, etc.) to the bottom edge 24, from the bottom
edge 24 to the
top 42 and, in embodiments where the angle is a non-perpendicular angle,
toward the
head end 26 of the main body 20. The top 42 of the lower recess 40 may be
defined by a
junction between the head surface 44 and the foot surface 46 of the upper
recess 40. In
some embodiments, that junction may be radiused or otherwise rounded.
Alternatively,
the top 42 of the lower recess 40 may be elongated. An elongated top 42 may be
substantially parallel to the top edge 22 of the main body 20.
Each lower recess 40 may be positioned at a location along the length of the
main
body 20 of the side rail 10 where the top of the mattress (not shown in FIG. 1
or FIG. 2)
is expected to be bent convexly. For example, each lower recess 40 may be
positioned at
a location that will be superimposed over a joint between an intermediate
section and a
foot section of an adjustable bedframe (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2).
Alternatively, a
plurality of lower recesses 40 may be positioned at locations that will be
superimposed
with an area on both sides of a joint between the intermediate section and the
foot section
of the adjustable bedframe. As illustrated by FIG. 1, the lower recess 40 is
positioned
between or at a transition between the intermediate portion 14 of the side
rail 10 and a
foot portion 16 of the side rail 10.
The side rail 10 may include one or more lower recesses 40. In the embodiment
depicted by FIGs. 1 and 2, the side rail 10 may include a single lower recess
40. In the
embodiment of side rail 10' shown in FIGs. 4A-4D, the main body 20' may
include two
lower recesses 40'. Regardless of how many lower recesses 40 are included,
they may be
grouped together.
An upper insert 60 may be provided in each upper recess 30 of the main body 20
of the side rail 10. Each upper insert 60 may substantially fill its
corresponding upper
recess 30 and include a top edge 62 that is coplanar or substantially coplanar
with the top
edge 22 of the main body 20, a base 64 adjacent to the base 32 of the
corresponding upper
recess 30, a head surface 66 adjacent to the head surface 34 of the
corresponding upper
recess 30, and a foot surface 68 adjacent to the foot surface 36 of the
corresponding upper
recess 30. An entirety of each of the base 64, head surface 66, and foot
surface 68 of the
upper insert 60 may contact and be secured to (e.g., with a suitable cement or
other
adhesive material, etc.) its corresponding base 32, head surface 34, and foot
surface 36 of
the corresponding upper recess 30. Thus, a shape or configuration of each
upper insert 60
may complement, be the same as, or be substantially the same as a shape or
configuration
of the upper recess 30 in which the upper insert 60 is positioned.
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A lower insert 70 may be provided in each lower recess 40 of the main body 20
of
the side rail 10. Each lower insert 70 may substantially fill its
corresponding lower recess
40 and include a bottom edge 72 that is coplanar or substantially coplanar
with the bottom
edge 24 of the main body 20 of the side rail 10, a top 74 adjacent to the top
42 of the
corresponding lower recess 40, a head surface 76 adjacent to the head surface
44 of the
corresponding lower recess 40, and a foot surface 78 adjacent to the foot
surface 46 of the
corresponding lower recess 40. An entirety of each of the top 74, head surface
76, and
foot surface 78 of the lower insert 70 may contact and be secured to (e.g.,
with a suitable
cement or other adhesive material, etc.) its corresponding top 42, head
surface 44, and
foot surface 46 of the corresponding lower recess 40. Thus, a shape or
configuration of
each lower insert 70 may complement, be the same as, or be substantially the
same as a
shape or configuration of the lower recess 40 in which the lower insert 70 is
positioned.
A shape of each upper insert 60 and each lower insert 70 and a material from
which each upper insert 60 and each lower insert 70 is formed may enable the
side rail 10
to readily flex when the mattress (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) of which it
is a part is
bent in a corresponding direction. For example, the shape and material of each
upper
insert 60 may enable the side rail 10 to readily flex when a top of the
mattress is bent
concavely at a location where the upper insert 60 is located. As another
example, the
shape and material of each lower insert 70 may enable the side rail 10 to
readily flex
when a top of the mattress is bent convexly at a location where the lower
insert 70 is
located.
The material from which each upper insert 60 and each lower insert 70 is
formed
may be readily compressible, but have sufficient rigidity to impart the side
rail 10 with
acceptable structural integrity. By way of example only, each upper insert 60
and each
lower insert 70 may comprise a compressible, resilient material. The
compressible,
resilient material may comprise a foam. The compressible, resilient material
of each
upper insert 60 and each lower insert 70 may be more readily compressible than
the
compressible, resilient material of the main body 20 to which the upper insert
60 and
lower insert 70 are secured. For example, an ILD rating of the compressible,
resilient
material of each upper insert 60 and each lower insert 70 of a side rail 10
may be less than
an ILD rating of the compressible, resilient material from which the main body
20 of the
side rail 10 is formed. An ILD rating of the compressible resilient material
may be 18 to
about 24 (e.g., 18, 20, 22, 24, etc.). In a specific embodiment, each upper
insert 60 and/or
each lower insert 70 may be formed from a medium density polyethylene (MDPE)
foam.
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While FIGs. 1 and 2 show each upper recess 30 with an upper insert 60 therein
and each lower recess 40 with a lower insert 70 therein, one, more than one,
or all of the
upper recesses 30 and/or lower recesses 40 may lack a corresponding upper
insert 60 or
lower insert 70 and, thus, remain open, comprising a relief cut in the main
body 20 of the
side rail 10.
FIG. 3 shows how the upper inserts 60 of an embodiment of a side rail 10 may
compress and, thus, give way more readily than the main body 20 of the side
rail 10. As
illustrated, the top edge 22 of the main body 20 of the side rail 10 is bent
concavely at a
location where two upper recesses 30 and their corresponding upper inserts 60
are
located. While the upper inserts 60 compress from between their head surfaces
66 and
their foot surfaces 68, shortening their top edges 62, the top edge 22 of the
main body 20
remains substantially unbent and otherwise unaffected. Moreover, the upper
recesses 30
and the upper inserts 60 therein control the location at which the bottom edge
24 of the
main body 20 bends and limits the distance along a length of the bottom edge
24 along
which bending occurs.
The embodiment of side rail 10' depicted by FIGs. 4A-4D includes a main body
20' with four upper recesses 30a', 30b', 30c', 30d' (each also referred to as
an upper recess
30') and two lower recesses 40a' and 40b' (each also referred to as a lower
recess 40'). An
upper insert 60a', 60b', 60c', 60d' (each also referred to as an upper insert
60') is secured
in place within a corresponding upper recess 30a', 30b', 30c', 30d'. A lower
insert 70a',
70b' (each also referred to as a lower insert 70') is secured in place within
a corresponding
lower recess 40a', 40b'.
The four upper recesses 30' and corresponding upper inserts 60' are grouped
together at a location where a top of a mattress (not shown in FIGs. 4A-4D) of
which the
side rail 10' is a part will be bent concavely (e.g., between or at a
transition between a
head region and an intermediate region along the length, or height, of the
mattress, etc.).
For example, the upper recesses 30' may be positioned between or at a
transition between
a head portion 12' of the side rail 10' and an intermediate portion 14' of the
side rail 10'.
The two lower recesses 40' and corresponding lower inserts 70' are grouped
together at a
location where a top of the mattress of which the side rail 10' is a part will
be bent
convexly (e.g., between or at a transition between an intermediate region and
a foot
region along the length, or height, of the mattress, etc.). For example, the
lower recesses
40' may be positioned between or at a transition between the intermediate
portion 14' of
the side rail 10' and a foot portion 16' of the side rail 10'.
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While FIGs. 4A-4D show a side rail 10' with each upper recess 30' including an
upper insert 60' therein and each lower recess 40' including a lower insert
70' therein,
one, more than one, or all of the upper recesses 30' and/or lower recesses 40'
may lack a
corresponding upper insert 60' or lower insert 70' and, thus, remain open,
comprising a
relief cut in the main body 20' of the side rail 10'.
FIGs. 5A-D depict yet another embodiment of a side rail 10". The side rail 10"
includes a main body 20" with at least one upper recess 30" (five upper
recesses 30a",
30b", 30c", 30d", 30e" are depicted) in the top edge 22" of the main body 20".
In
addition, the side rail 10" includes at least one lower recess 40" (a single
lower recess
40"is depicted) in a bottom edge 24" of the main body 20". As depicted, each
upper
recess 30" and lower recess 40" may have the same or substantially the same
dimensions.
Alternatively, the dimensions of the upper recess(es) 30" and lower recess(es)
40" may
differ from each other.
The upper recesses 30" and/or lower recesses 40" of the side rail 10" may be
grouped. As shown in FIGs. 5A-5D, a first group 31A" of upper recesses 30a",
30b",
30c" may be located between or at a transition between a head region 12" and
an
intermediate region 14" of the side rail 10". A second group 31W' of upper
recesses 30d",
30e" may be positioned between or at a transition between the intermediate
region 14" of
the side rail 10" and a foot region 16" of the side rail 10". The lower recess
40" may also
be positioned between or at a transition between the intermediate region 14"
and the foot
region 16", closer to the foot end 28" of the main body 12" of the side rail
10" than the
second group 31B" of upper recesses 30d", 30e". Alternatively, the lower
recess 40" may
be positioned at an intermediate location along the length of the foot portion
16" of the
side rail 10".
While FIGs. 5A-5D show a side rail 10" with each upper recess 30" and lower
recess 40"lacking an insert and, thus, remaining open, comprising a relief cut
in the main
body 20" of the side rail 10", one, more than one, or all of the upper
recesses 30" and/or
lower recesses 40" may include an insert.
FIGs. 4A-4D and FIGs. 5A-5D illustrate specific shapes and dimensions for the
embodiments of side rails 10' and 10" depicted thereby and the elements of the
depicted
embodiments of the side rails 10' and 10", including the main body 20', 20",
each upper
recess 30', 30", upper insert 60', 60", lower, recess 40', 40", and lower
insert 70', 70".
Although FIGs. 4A-4D and FIGs. 5A-5D provide specific shapes and dimensions
for each
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of the features of the illustrated side rails 10' and 10", the details
provided by FIGs. 4A-
4D and FIGs. 5A-5D are merely representative.
Turning now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a mattress 100 is depicted with a side
rails 10' (see also FIGs. 4A-4D) positioned along each side 102 of the
mattress 100. The
side rails 10', along with a base (not shown), a head rail (not shown), and a
foot rail (not
shown), may define at least part of a foundation 110 of the mattress 100. The
foundation
110 may define a receptacle (not shown) for at least one cushioning element
(not shown)
of the mattress.
The cushioning element (not shown) of the mattress 100 may comprise coil
springs (not shown) (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication US
2019/0150632 Al,
the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein), one or more
pressurizable
bladders (see, e.g., U.S. Patent 11.213,139, the entire disclosure of which is
hereby
incorporated herein), memory foam, and/or any other suitable cushioning
element for a
mattress, or a combination of cushioning elements.
An intermediate layer 120 may be positioned over the foundation 110. A top
cushioning element 130 may be positioned over the intermediate layer 120. The
top
cushioning element 130 may comprise a gel cushion (not shown). The gel cushion
of the
top cushioning element 130 may include a plurality of resiliently compressible
intersecting or interconnected walls defining an array of interconnected,
resiliently
buckling columns, with avoid in each column, as described by U.S. Patents
7,060,213,
7,076,822, and 8,919,750. Stated another way, the interconnected or
intersecting walls
may define an array of hollow columns, or voids. Such a gel cushion may be
formed from
any of a variety of compressible, resilient materials, including cushioning
foams and
elastomeric materials, such as the extended A-B-A triblock copolymers
described by U.S.
Patents 6,413,458, 6,797,765, and 7,964,664. While such a gel cushion may
extend to the
periphery of the inner assembly of the mattress 100, such a gel cushion may be
surrounded by foam edge pieces 135. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the depicted
inner
assembly of the mattress 100 may be enclosed within a mattress cover.
In FIG. 6, a side rail 10' of the mattress 100 is shown in a bent arrangement,
in
which a top 104 of the mattress 100 and the top edge 22' (FIGs. 4A-4C) of the
main body
20' of the side rail 10' are bent concavely at a location between a head
region 106 of the
mattress 100 and an intermediate region 107 of the mattress 100. The upper
inserts 60' of
the side rail 10', especially upper inserts 60a' and 60b', are shown in
compressed states. In
addition, the top 104 of the mattress 100 and the top edge 22' of the main
body 20' of the
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side rail 10' are bent convexly at a location between the intermediate region
107 and a
foot region 108 of the mattress 100. The lower inserts 70' of the side rail
10', particularly
the lower insert 70a', is in a compressed state.
In addition to illustrating an embodiment of a side rail 10' and an embodiment
of a
mattress 100, FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of an adjustable bed 200, with the
mattress 100 resting upon an adjustable bedframe 210. The adjustable bedframe
210 may
include a support surface 212 that includes a plurality of support elements
214, 216, and
218. More specifically, the support surface 212 may include a head support
element 212,
an intermediate support element 214, and a foot support element 216. As
illustrated, at
least one concavely bending joint 215 may be located between the head support
element
212 and the intermediate support element 216. At least one convexly bending
joint 217
may be located between the intermediate support element 216 and the foot
support
element 218. Specifically, the adjustable bedframe 210 may comprise the PURPLE
POWERBASE adjustable bedframe available from Purple Innovation, LLC, of Lehi,
Utah. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2018/0168359 Al, the
entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein. Of course, a bed according
to this
disclosure may include any other embodiment of adjustable bedframe with
support
elements and joints that differ from those (in number, location, etc.) shown
in FIG. 6, as
well as a mattress with side rails that include upper and lower recesses and
upper and
lower inserts that are positioned for use with the arrangement of support
elements and
joints of the adjustable bedframe.
Although the preceding disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be
construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely
as providing
illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed
subject
matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and of their
elements and
features, may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any
of the
claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination.
Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and
the legal
equivalents thereto.
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