Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MATTRESS STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF USING TECHNICAL FEATURE THEREOF
TO HELP USER TO LEARN ABOUT USE OF MATTRESS STRUCTURE AND DETERMINE
WHETHER USER CAN ADJUST TO MATTRESS STRUCTURE
Background of the Invention
As publicly known, a good mattress can improve sleep quality. It is however
not easy to find a
good mattress, for the reason that each individual has their own age, body
shape and weight,
as well as diversified supporting needs. Everyone has also their own sleep
habits and
preference for firmness of the mattress. It is not easy for a mattress to
satisfy at the same
time different needs of a couple, as they differ in age, body shape and build
and sleep habits.
Even if one is able to come up with a mattress satisfying their present needs,
the mattress in
general would be used for 10 years or more, during which time changes in the
user's age,
body conditions and shape would occur. A mattress would normally take physical
damage as
time passes, without the ability to keep up with constant changes in the
user's needs. It is
thus even harder to come up with a mattress tailor-made to the body shape and
build of the
user and at the same time with the ability to constantly satisfy different
needs in support
brought along by personal changes.
As the lifespan of human increases, finding a way to allow the pillar of the
human body¨the
spine¨ to work with the aging body is becoming imminent. After 40 years of
intensive
research on bedding and reference to considerable literature on spinal care
and healthy
sleep, the inventor concludes that it is in fact not difficult to improve the
function of the spine
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and extend its life, where a suitable pillow and a capable mattress are all it
takes. With the
combination of the two, it is estimated (non-clinically) that the spine would
be able to at least
function for a term 20-30% longer. Looking at mattresses in the market
throughout the world,
no matter how luxurious they are in their appearance, none of them can be said
capable.
A. Manufacturers' Lack of Understanding of the Body Structure Unique to
Each Individual
1. As publicly known, the spine is the pillar of the body supporting the whole
torso and
maintaining its agile movements. The spine has an S-shape as its natural
biological curves. A
cross section of the spine when sleeping on the back would generally reveal
that the cervical
vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae are arched upwards. Taking into account the
hip bulging
downwards, there would be 3 to 5 inches of difference in level between the
lumbar vertebrae
and the hip.
2. The spine is prone to fatigue during daytime when working, sitting,
standing and walking.
Sleeping is the only time when the spine can take full rest. When sleeping,
two pressure
points are created on the body: the shoulder (particularly noticeable for a
male sleeping on
his side) and the hip (particularly noticeable for a female with a generally
wider pelvis). The
key to quality sleep lies in suitable relief for these pressure points and
thus effective
protection for the S-shaped spine with its natural biological curves.
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3. Near the hip of the human body exists a body part colloquially known
as the "low back".
The low back initiates movements of the whole upper body and endures
frequently tension
caused by lateral swinging motions. It can be described as the part that is
most fragile and
most heavily stressed (see figure). Activities during daytime cause strain to
the low back,
which is desirable to be healed and relieved by taking rests and sleeps. Due
to its proximity to
the hip and the difference in level and weight between the low back and the
hip, the low back
is lifted by the hip when lying on the back and loses the support it needs. It
is thus obvious
that the low back is the part most prone to fatigue and injury. Without
sufficient healing, "low
back strain" will occur in the long run. When the low back is stressed for
days and nights
without relief, adjacent fasciae and nerves would naturally become stiff and
induce
hyperaemia, causing inflammation, pain, muscular stiffness and numbness in the
long run. In
the worst scenario, permanent spinal tuberculosis may form besides the lumbar,
affecting
normal activities.
Apart from the abovementioned structure of the human body, of higher
importance are the
differences in body shape and build between each individual. In theory, each
individual needs
their own unique support for the back. However, mattresses in the market in
general cannot
satisfy each individual's biological needs.
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B. Defects in Mainstream Closed Mattresses in the Present Market
1. Unitary Firmness without Precisely Defined Support Zones
The mattress has adopted a closed and unitary structure since its advent some
80 years ago.
Despite the fact that different mattresses may vary in their firmness, most
would only offer
one kind of such. The material used in the mattress is decided by the
manufacturer, leaving
no room for customization by the customer.
2. Incapability to Support Diversified Body Shapes with Vaguely Defined
Zones
As technologies progress, recent years have seen occasional attempts by
manufacturers to
define mattress zones according to firmness, albeit without succeeding in
precisely matching
the S-shaped curves of different bodies. The first reason for this is that it
is not possible for
the manufacturer to predict each individual's height, weight and body shape.
How pressures
points of the user can be addressed as seen in advertisements is in fact empty
words, nothing
more than propaganda. The second reason lies in the diameter of an individual
coil being at
least 6 to 7 cm and along with the intervals between coils, it is not possible
to fit precisely
each individual's body shape. Due to the difference in height between
individuals, the position
and zone of the pressure points even in the same body part varies
considerably. The subtle
difference in supporting needs cannot be addressed by simply dividing the
mattress vaguely
into "head", "body" and "leg" zones. Such subtle mismatch translates into a
substantial issue
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in application. Owing to the differences in body build, it is conceivable that
a unitary mattress
would not be able to satisfy individual's needs between a couple sleeping in
the same bed.
3. Pain in the Low Back, the Suspended Body Part Forgotten
According to a medical survey, 60% to 70% people in the middle age suffer low
back strain,
which is mostly caused by insufficient support when sleeping on the back,
instead of merely
the outcome of labour. Coil mattresses with a unitary and closed structure
rarely provide
substantial support for the low back, for the reason that the hip below the
low back is in
general heavier. Under physical traction, the surface of the mattress
underneath the hip
would generally collapse, thereby removing support for the low back,
suspending and
stressing it, preventing relaxation of the same. This issue is however
commonly ignored or
unresolved by mattress manufacturers. Therefore, mattresses in the market are
incapable of
extending the life of the spine, and worse still may indirectly cause damage
and accelerate its
degradation.
4. The Individual Coil Misnomer
In the past decade, the coil design of the closed coil mattress has been
filled with gimmicks
such as "individually wrapped coils", "continuous coils", "tied coils", "extra-
thin, extra-dense,
extra-count coils" and "double/triple layer coils". Objectively speaking, some
of them brought
about some changes, being convincing at least in their names. For example, the
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a
advertisement of "individually wrapped coils" is appealing to some: a wine
glass filled with
champagne is put on one side of a coil and a bowling ball is dropped onto the
other side. The
wine glass in the advertisement remains motionless. Many are tricked by such
representation
of "individual wraps". Taking a closer look, however, a clear plastic plate is
placed underneath
the wine glass, and the coils are literally "individual". In reality, an
"individually wrapped coil"
mattress does not come with a clear plastic plate, and some material has to be
connected in
between the coils for shaping purpose. 3 to 6 protective layers, supportive
layers and comfort
layers have to be placed on top and at the bottom of the coils. Topped with a
fancy cover, the
coils are obviously less "individual". Dropping a bowling ball onto such
mattress may even
cause movement to someone lying thereon.
5. The Backfiring Competition in Thickness and Fanciness
The trend in recent years in coil mattress design has been on thickness and
fanciness,
leading to increasing sizes and weights easily reaching 60 to 70 kg. All coil
mattresses,
however, are prone to metal fatigue. To extend the durability and life of the
mattress,
customers paying for the product are required, despite difficulty, to flip
regularly the bulk of the
mattress weighing 60 to 70 kg. Such action is not only a torture to the user,
but also a joke in
the consumer industry.
In addition, nuisance and waste are caused by the delivery of the bulk of the
mattress. In
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particular, old multi-storey buildings may not be fitted with an elevator, or
one that is large
enough for such bulky mattress. Lifting equipment is therefore required to be
set up outside of
the building in order to deliver the mattress to the floor in question,
thereby incurring costs
and nuisance. In an even worse scenario, delivery personnel have to carry the
mattress
upstairs where lifting equipment cannot be set up. Such delivery may lead to
work injury,
adding a burden to public medical services. It may also cause unnecessary
damage to public
facilities and upholstery along the staircase.
6. Closed Mattresses as Hotbeds for Bacteria and Mites
Generally speaking, closed unitary coil mattresses of various kinds are faced
with a number
of serious deficiencies, causing worries and trouble to the user. In
particular, the materials
used in the mattress remain unknown to the user. Even if the coils and
materials are corroded
or moulded, infested with bacteria or mites, or even causing odour, the user
can do nothing
due to the size and closed structure of the mattress. Knowingly accepting the
fact that
bacteria, mites and odour are building up and developing and at the same time
having nightly
sleeps with them is one of the biggest ironies to the technologically advanced
world of the
present day.
Summary of the invention
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This invention is related to a mattress structure, in particular but not
exclusively of a mattress
structure that can be disassembled.
According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a mattress
structure for
providing different degrees of relief or support to various body parts of a
user or in
accordance with different body lengths of the users, the mattress structure
comprising; a
principal axis; two or more relief units, distributed in different positions
along the principal axis,
wherein at least one relief unit provides a degree of relief different from
that of another relief
unit, to thereby define a relief layer that provides different degrees of
relief corresponding to
various parts of the body, the relief layer being dividable into two or more
relief zones and
these zones are divided according to the body parts of the user, at least one
or more of the
relief zones being made up of relief units of different sizes, at least one
relief unit being a main
relief unit which provides a relief ability greater than that of another
relief unit, the relief units
in a relief zone being inter-changeable or re-arrangeable according to needs
of the user to
change the position of the main relief unit relative to the other relief units
within the zone, for
accommodating users of different body heights and different lengths of various
body parts.
Preferably, the mattress structure includes three relief zones, corresponding
to shoulders,
hips and legs of a user.
Preferably, the shoulder and hip zones each includes two or more relief units
which are
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interchangeable or re-arrangeable according to needs of a user.
Preferably, the main relief unit in the relief zone is interchangeable or
relatively moveable with
respect to other relief units in the zone.
Preferably, the shoulders and hips relief zones each includes a main relief
unit, the two main
relief units are interchangeable or re-arrangeable or relatively moveable in
accordance with
personal needs of a user.
Preferably, one of the relief units in the relief zone is the main relief
unit, the main relief unit
has a dimension along the principal axis being designed such that inter-
changing of position
of the main relief unit relative to other relief unit in the same zone permits
the position of the
main relief unit to be adjusted along the principal axis by unit length.
Preferably, the main relief units in the two relief zones provides different
relief abilities.
Preferably, the relief layer is formed from relief units of different sizes,
two main relief units are
interchangeable or relatively moveable according to user needs for
accommodating users of
different height and body parts with different lengths.
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=
Preferably, the relief units are made of material of different density for
providing different relief
abilities.
Preferably, the relief units are made of material with different hardness for
providing different
relief abilities.
Preferably, the mattress structure further Comprises one or more support layer
positioned
below the relief layer.
Preferably, the support layer includes two or more independent support units.
Preferably, the support layer includes a resilient layer.
Preferably, the mattress structure further comprises a chassis for containing
the relief unit.
Preferably, the chassis is divided into two or more chassis zones
corresponding to position of
body parts of the user or position of the two or more relief zones.
Preferably, the chassis contains at least two relief units huddled together
for maintaining their
relative positions.
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Preferably, the chassis further contains a support unit.
Preferably, at least one of the chassis zones contains three relief units and
one support unit.
Preferably, at least one of the chassis zones contains five relief units and
one support unit.
Preferably, the chassis has a wall and the wall is tall enough to overlap with
part of the
thickness of the relief unit.
Preferably, the chassis is made of flexible material.
Preferably, the relief layer is capable of being independently placed on
conventional mattress
for use.
Preferably, the mattress structure includes one or more comfort layer, the
comfort layer is
placed above the relief layer for concealing unevenness of the relief units
and to form an even
surface.
Preferably, the relief layer includes an aperture.
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s
Preferably, the relief layer includes an aperture and the support layer
includes an aperture,
the apertures are in fluid communication.
Preferably, the mattress structure includes one or more comfort layer, the
comfort layer is
placed above the relief layer for concealing unevenness of the relief units
and to form an even
surface, the comfort layer includes an aperture which is in fluid
communication with the
apertures in the relief layer and support layer.
Preferably, the chassis includes an air permeable structure which is in fluid
communication
with the apertures in the relief layer, support layer and the comfort layer.
Preferably, the mattress further comprises at least one comfort layer and one
or more
supplementary support unit which is placed between the relief layer and the
comfort layer.
Preferably, the two of the relief units are main relief units, the two main
relief units provide
greater relief ability than the other relief unit and the supplementary
support unit is placed
between the two main relief units.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method making use of
the
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characteristics of the mattress structure in any one of claims 1 to 29 for
allowing a user to
understand usage of the mattress structure and to make a decision on the
suitability of the
mattress structure, the method comprising the following steps:
(i) providing a sample mattress structure by the seller, the sample mattress
structure
comprising a relief layer, the relief layer comprising two or more disassemble-
able relief units,
the relief layer being dividable into two or more relief zones, these relief
zones being defined
corresponding to the position of various parts of the user body, at least one
or more of the
relief zones being formed by relief units of different sizes, at least one of
the relief units being
a main relief unit which provides greater relief ability compared to that of
the other relief units,
the relief units in the relief zones being interchangeable in position to
change the relative
positions of the relief units in the zone to accommodate different body
heights and lengths of
various body parts of different users or different body conditions;
(ii) testing the sample by the user, understanding use of the mattress
structure and deciding
suitability of the mattress structure by the user, in that the user may change
the position of the
main relief unit relative to the other relief units in the mattress structure
according to personal
needs for testing the sample mattress structure; and
(iii) providing a brand new mattress structure in exchange for the sample
mattress structure
by the seller when the user has familiarized with the use of the mattress
structure and
decided the mattress structure to be suitable.
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Preferably, the method further includes a chassis for accommodating at least
two relief units
in the relief layer, to delimit relative position of the relief units.
Preferably, the user is required to take away the sample mattress structure
and test the
sample mattress structure within a specified period of time for understanding
the use of the
mattress structure and deciding the suitability of the mattress structure.
Preferably, the user is required to pay a deposited or a full price of a
mattress structure
structure before the sample is provided for testing.
Preferably, step (iii) may be replaced by step (iiib), step (iiib) involves
the step of providing
products of same value as the mattress structure for substituting the sample
mattress
structure.
Preferably, the method further comprises step (ia) before step (i), step (ia)
comprises the step
of providing a detection device for detecting sequence of the relief units and
the position of
the main relief unit relative to that of the other relief units that are
suitable for the user.
Preferably, the step (ia) further includes the step of providing a
specification of a personalized
arrangement for the user.
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Preferably, size of the sample mattress structure is different from that of a
brand new
mattress structure.
In the following, embodiments are described, by way of example only, with
reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a mattress structure in accordance with
an
embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 1B shows an enlarged view of a connector of the mattress structure as
shown in
Figure 1A,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a partly opened mattress cover of the
mattress structure
as shown in Figure 1A,
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a partly opened mattress cover of the
mattress structure
as shown in Figure 1A,
Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 1A,
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Figure 4B shows an enlarged view of a part of the mattress structure as shown
in Figure 4B,
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a chassis of the mattress structure as
shown in Figure
1A,
Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the mattress structure as shown in Figure
1A,
Figure 7 shows a schematic drawing of a part of a support layer in the
mattress structure as
shown in Figure 1A,
Figure 8 shows a schematic drawing of a portion of a relief layer in the
mattress structure as
shown in Figure 1A,
Figure 9 shows a schematic drawing of a portion of the relief layer in the
mattress structure as
shown in Figure 1A,
Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 1A,
including a relief layer for the use of a female user,
Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 1A,
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including a relief layer for the use of a male user,
Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 10,
including a relief layer for the use of a female user, the relief units in the
relief layer may be in
different arrangements,
Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 11,
including a relief layer for the use of a male user, the relief units in the
relief layer may be in
different arrangements,
Figures 14A to 14D shows a cross-sectional view of the mattress structure as
shown in Figure
10, including a relief layer for use of a female, the relief units in the
relief layer may be in
different arrangements,
Figure 15 shows a schematic drawing of the mattress structure as shown in
Figure 1A when
in use,
Figures 16A to 16B shows a common mattress when in use,
Figure 17 shows a schematic drawing of a mattress structure in accordance with
a second
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embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 18 shows an exploded view of the mattress structure as shown in Figure
17,
Figure 19 shows an exploded view of the mattress structure as shown in Figure
17, in a
different circumstance,
Figure 20A shows a cross-sectional view of relief units in a relief layer of
the mattress
structure as shown in Figure 18,
Figure 20B shows a cross-section view of the relief units in the relief layer
of the mattress
structure as shown in Figure 19, in a different circumstance,
Figure 20C shows a top plan view of an upper layer of the mattress structure
as shown in
Figure 20B,
Figure 20D shows a top plan view of the relief layer of the mattress structure
as shown in
Figure 20A,
Figure 20E shows a top plan view of the relief layer of the mattress structure
as shown in
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Figure 20B,
Figure 20F shows a top plan view of the upper layer of the mattress structure
as shown in
Figure 20A,
Figure 21 shows a schematic drawing of the mattress structure in accordance
with a further
embodiment of the present invention, including a support pad,
Figure 22 shows the support pad positioned in a different position of the
mattress structure as
shown in Figure 21,
Figure 23 shows a schematic drawing of a portion of the mattress structure as
shown in
Figure 21, and
Figure 24A and 24B shows an enlarged drawing of the support part as shown in
Figure 21.
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Detailed Description
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been
presented
by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the
inventions. Indeed, the
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms;
furthermore, the
invention may be implemented in other ways and other forms without departing
from the spirit
of the inventions.
The present mattress structure 1 is considered to be made up of two layers,
from bottom to
top, including a support layer 4 and a relief layer 5. In a different
embodiment, the mattress
structure includes a comfort layer 3. The comfort layer 3 may be divided into
two pieces.
Preferably the whole mattress structure 1 is enclosed or surrounded by a
mattress cover 6
and a chassis 2. The comfort layer 3, the support layer 4 and the relief layer
5 are not in direct
contact with the user to maintain cleanliness of the mattress structure 1. The
mattress
structure 1 may be use independently or with a conventional mattress. When the
mattress
structure 1 is used with a conventional mattress, the support layer 4 may be
removed, only
the relief layer 5 and the comfort layer 3 are placed on the conventional
mattress.
The present mattress structure 1 may be a single mattress structure 1 or a
double mattress
structure 1. Preferably, the double mattress structure 1 is a combination of
two single
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mattresses structure 1.
The chassis 2 is substantially rectangular, with a dimension similar to that
of conventional
mattresses. The chassis 2 may be a single chassis for use with a single
mattress structure 1;
or it may be a double chassis for use with a double mattress structure 1. The
chassis 2 has
four sides. Along each side there is provided an upwardly extending side wall
21, 22, 23 and
24. Each side wall 21, 22, 23 and 24 is connected to form a peripheral wall.
In one
embodiment, the peripheral wall 21, 22, 23 and 24 is of a height sufficient to
cover at least
part of a peripheral edge of the relief layer 5 or more. The peripheral wall
21, 22, 23 and 24 is
useful in maintaining the relative positions of each support unit 41 to 43 in
the support layer 4
and each relief unit 51 to 59 in the relief layer 5.
A space is defined within the peripheral wall. Preferably the chassis 2
includes a separation
wall 25 which divides the space into two or more zones 26 to 28. Preferably, a
single chassis
2 is divided into two or three chassis zones 26 to 28 and a double chassis 2
is divided into two
sets of two to three zones 26 to 28. These chassis zones 26 to 28 maintain the
relative
position between the respective relief units 51 to 59 and hold them together.
The height of the
separation wall 25 may only be sufficient to reach the support units 41 to 43.
As shown in Figure 1B, the bottom edge of the mattress cover 6 is connected to
the top edge
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of the chassis 2 through a connector 62. The connector 62 may be a zipper. The
mattress
cover 6 and the chassis 2 may be formed by a material that is stretchable
and/or resilient,
including synthetic leather and non-woven fabric. At the top surface of the
mattress cover 6
there is provided a connector 61 which may be in the form of a zipper. As
shown in Figure 2,
the connectors 61 and 62 when released, at least a part of the mattress cover
6 is openable
for reaching the comfort layer 3, the support layer 4 and the relief layer 5.
This permits access
for rearrangement of the comfort layer 3, the support layer 4 and the relief
layer 5.
The mattress cover 6 has a corner or a pair of corners or all four corners
provided with a
handle 63. The handle 63 assists the user in moving the mattress structure 1
such that the
changing of bed cover or linings would be relatively easy when comparing to
mattresses
without such a handle.
Preferably, the comfort layer 3 is made of latex or other resilient material
such as memory
foam. A comfort layer 3 for a double mattress structure may include two single
comfort layers
3.
Conventional mattresses use metal spring as the internal support material. The
mattress
cannot be folded and is difficult to transport. It is also difficult to wash
and allows bacteria and
mites to accumulate. The metal spring deteriorates and may produce squeaky
sound that
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disturbs the user. Even worse, the metal spring may pierce through and injure
the user. The
magnetic field generated by a metal spring may affect the brain waves of the
user and
adversely affect the quality of sleep.
The support layer 4 is made of resilient and soft material. Preferably, the
support layer is a
rectangular layer or it may be made up of two or four, three or six support
units 41 to 43. The
support units 41 to 43 are independent units. A single support layer 4 may
include three
support units 41 to 43, distributed sequentially along principal axis X of the
mattress structure
1. A double support layer 4 may be made up of two single support layers 4
placed
side-by-side. In one embodiment, each support unit 41 to 43 is contained
separately in the
three or six zones 26 to 28 of the chassis 2. These support units 41 to 43 are
inter-changeable, inter-disassembleable, moveable relatively or inter-
replaceable.
The relief layer 5 is moveable and changeable. Its main function is to relieve
the pressure on
the user. The relief layer 5 is formed from two or more independent relief
units 51 to 59.
These relief units 51 to 59 are inter-changeable, inter-disassembleable,
moveable relatively
or inter-replaceable and are contained in the chassis zones 26 to 28 above the
support layer
4. In other words, the relative position of each relief unit 51 to 49 is
changeable. Preferably, as
shown in Figures 3 to 8, the relief layer 5 includes nine relief units 51 to
59. Each relief unit 51
to 59 has its pre-determined width A. The relief layer 5 is generally made up
of three 25
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inches long relief zones 51 to 53, 54 to 58 and 59. The relief zone 51 to 53,
54 to 58 and 59
correspond to the user's shoulders, hips and legs respectively.
The first zone 26/71, made up of relief units 51 to 53, corresponds to the
head and shoulder
of the user, The relief unit 51 is 13 inches wide, the relief unit 52 is 10
inches wide and relief
unit 53 is 2 inches wide, provided for and corresponds in position to the
head, shoulders and
upper back of the user respectively to thereby relieve pressure on those part
of body of the
user. In this zone 26, there is provided a main relief unit position including
a main relief unit 52.
The position of the main relief unit is provided for and corresponds in
position to the shoulders
of the user. The main relief unit 52 has a relieve ability greater than that
of the other relief
units 51 and 53 in the same zone. Preferably, the main relief unit 52 is made
of a material
relatively softer than that of the main relief units 51 and 53. When the user
is side-sleeping, as
shown in Figures 4 and 6, the shoulders are wider than the head and the upper
back,
especially for man and need to take up more space. When the mattress structure
1 is used,
the shape of the main relief unit 52 experience a greater change in shape when
comparing to
the other relief units 51 and 53 in the same zone, such that it provides a
relatively greater
relieve effect. The main relief unit 52 provides a relative more distinct
relieve effect when
comparing to the other relief units 51 and 53.
The second zone 27/72 is provided for and corresponds in position to the lower
back, waist,
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hips and knees of the user. The second zone 27/72 is made up of five relief
units 54 to 58.
The arrangement of the relief units 54 to 58 in the zone is different for male
and female as
they usually have different body heights/lengths. As shown in Figure 10, the
relief unit 54 has
a width of 3 inches, the relief unit 55 is 2 inches wide, the relief unit 56
is 10 inches wide, the
relief unit 57 is 4 inches wide and the relief unit 58 has a width of 6
inches. For a female user
the relief units 54 to 58 are arranged in order. For a male user, the
arrangement of the relief
units is different. The first relief unit 57 is followed by the relief units
55, 56, 54 and 58
sequentially. The relief units 54 to 58 are inter-changeable to switch between
a relief layer 5
for female user and a relief layer 5 for male user.
In the second zone 27/72, the relief unit 56 has a width larger than that of
the relief units 54,
55, 57 and 58. In this zone 27/72, there is a main relief position formed by
the main relief unit
56. The main relief unit 56 is 10 inches wide, the relief unit 56 is provided
for and corresponds
in position to the hips of the user for providing a relatively greater relief
effect comparing to
that of the other relief units 54, 55, 57 and 58 in the same zone. The relief
units 54 and 55 are
provided for and correspond in position to the user's lower back and waist of
the user. The
relief units 57 and 58 are provided for and correspond in position to the
thigh and knees of the
user for relieving pressure in those regions.
The second zone 27/72 of a mattress structure 1 for female user has a main
relief unit 56 with
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I
higher relief ability than that in the first zone 26/71. The hips and the
pelvis of a female is
usually most protruding than the shoulders. A higher relief ability main
relief unit 56 is required
to accommodate the hips and the pelvis.
For a male user, the first zone 26/71 in the mattress structure 1 has a main
relief unit 52 with
a higher relief ability than that in a second zone 27/72 because the shoulders
of a male user
is usually the widest part of the body and during side sleeping, a higher
relief ability main
relief unit 56 is required to accommodate the shoulders. As the widths of the
main relief units
52 and 56 are both 10 inches, they are inter-changeable. In other words, a
mattress structure
1 for female may readily be changed into a mattress for male and vice versa.
When lying flat, the most protruding part from behind of the body, no matter
male or female,
would be the hips. The main relief unit 56 is able to relieve the pressure on
the hips and the
spine of the user. As shown in Figures 16A and 16B, insufficient relieve of
the pressure on the
hips and spine would adversely affect the health of and becomes a burden to
the spine of the
user.
Conventional mattress does not involve a point-to-point pressure relieve
structure. The
shoulders and hips of the user would be under severe pressure. The cervical
vertebra,
thoracic vertebra and pelvis would not be in the same plane. This would affect
the breathing
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4
and blood circulation of the user and in the long run, injure the cervical
vertebra.
The overall arrangement of the relief units 51 to 59 and the positions of the
main relief units
52 and 56 in the relief layer 5 are self-adjustable. To achieve targeted
effective pressure relief,
the main relief units 52 and 56 are inter-changeable and the relief units 51,
53 to 55 and 57 to
59 may also be inter-changeable. The relief abilities of the relief units 51
to 59 may be
different, varying from mild, middle to strong. When the pressure on the
pressure point of the
user's body is sufficiently relieved, the fascia is allowed to relax, blood
circulation is improved,
minimizing the chance of paralysis, rheumatic pain and tiredness after sleep.
In the third zone 28/73 of the mattress structure 1, it targets to support the
legs of the user,
preferably the lower legs. The third zone 28/73 is made up of relief unit 59.
As the pressure
on the legs is comparatively more evenly distributed along their length, it is
not necessary to
separate the relief unit 59 into smaller targeted relief units. Depends on the
user's preference,
the relief unit 59 may be made of different materials with different support
abilities. The relief
unit 59 may be a main relief unit.
Preferably the relief abilities of the main relief units 52 and 56 are the
same.
All relief units 51 to 59 can be independently removed, changed or replaced,
such that when
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one of them worn out, it can be changed or replaced without needing to change
or replace the
other relief units.
To suit the body height and waist length of different users, in a different
embodiment, as
shown in Figures 12 and 13, the relief units 51 to 53 in the first zone are 13
inches, 10 inches
and 2 inches wide respectively. The relief units 54 to 58 in the second zone
are
inter-changeable and may be of different arrangements. As shown in embodiment
A, the relief
units 54 to 58 are arranged in order for users with a waist length of 5
inches. As shown in
embodiment B, the relief units are arranged in the order of 57, 55, 56, 54 and
58 for users
with a waist length of 6 inches (i.e. 5+1 inches). As shown in embodiment C,
the relief units
are arranged in the order of 57, 54, 56, 55 and 58 for users with a waist
length of 7 inches (i.e.
5+1+1 inches). As shown in embodiment D, the relief units are arranged in the
order of 58, 55,
56, 54 and 57 for users with a waist length of 8 inches (i.e. 5+1+1+1
inches). As shown in
embodiment E the relief units are arranged in the order of 58, 54, 56, 55 and
57 for users with
a waist length of 9 inches (i.e. 5+1+1+1+1 inches).
In another embodiment as shown in Figures 14A to 14D, the relief units 51 to
53 in the first
zone are inter-changeable with different arrangements. As shown in the version
1 of the
embodiment, the relief units 51 to 53 are arranged in order which is suitable
for use with a
relatively narrower pillow. In the version 2 of the embodiment, the relief
units are in the
arrangement of 51, 53 and 52 which is suitable for use with a relatively wider
pillow, as
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=
compared with that in version 1, and this should be suitable for the European
market where
relatively wider pillows are used in general. As shown in the version 3, the
relief units are in
the arrangement of 53, 51 and 52.
The different embodiments and the different versions provide a large number of
combinations
to suit and accommodate the needs of users with different body heights/
lengths.
The present invention serves as a complete resolution to the deficiencies of
all closed unitary
coil mattresses in the present market (as mentioned above in detail).
Significant
improvements are made in regard to hygiene, safety, convenience, health,
environmental
friendliness and comfort, particularly achieving superior functional
breakthrough in spinal care.
The ultimate goal for the invention as a whole is to let the weight of the
sleeping body be
genuinely and evenly relieved and supported. Achieving such goal is the key to
longevity of
mankind.
The S-shaped structure of the human spine and its vertical attitude when in
motion contribute
to two relatively fragile sections on the spine: the cervical vertebrae and
the lumbar vertebrae,
particularly in the low back. While the former sustains only the weight of the
head, the latter
supports the whole upper body including the head, and at the same time endures
lateral
swinging, running and jumping, carrying and lifting, forward and backward, and
other
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,
physically challenging and demanding motions. It is thus easy to envision the
lumbar
vertebrae being the most laboured and burdened section of the spine. Yet, they
are also
frequently forgotten or overlooked during sleeps.
The new invention is targeted at the above to cleverly and inventively design
three groups of
"moveable, changeable core pressure relief layer" (known as the relief layer),
one group is for
accommodating the head and shoulders, known as the "head and shoulders relief
layer" in
the first zone 71; another group is for accommodating the waist and hips,
known as the "waist
and hips relief layer" in the second zone 72. Preferably the Leg relief layer
in the third zone 73
is a single unit and does not include moveable or changeable combination.
Within a relief zone 71, 72 or 73, the relevant relief units 51 to 59 include
a main relief unit
with a size along the principal axis of the mattress structure 1 designed to
permit adjustment
of its position along the principal axis in unit length when the position of
the main relief unit is
inter-changed with that of the other relief units in the same zone. Preferably
each unit length
is one inch.
Each relief layer 5 has two or more thickness (or height), for example 3
inches or 4 inches. In
the first and second zones 71 and 72, each made up of two or more pieces of
materials with
different relief abilities. The two combinations are results of the long term
investigation,
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detailed analysis and calculations. For example, the first zone 71 is made up
of three pieces
of material each having a width of 2 inches, 10 inches and 13 inches
respectively, the second
zone 72 is made up of five pieces of material each having a width of 2 inches,
3 inches, 4
inches, 6 inches and 10 inches. This permits at least five different
combinations and each
being of one inch difference between the two main relief units 52 and 56. In
other words, it
can be made to accommodate users with the waist length difference of at least
5 inches. The
waist takes up about 1/3 of the whole body length. The mattress structure 1
can be made to
accommodate users with an overall body height /length difference of 1 to 15
inches.
Material with the same density but different surface areas or widths will
exhibit different
hardness/softness effects. In general, with a larger area it is harder, and
with a smaller area it
is softer. This accords with the laws of physics and nature. The two groups of
relief layers are
arranged according to these laws. Those of a smaller area (narrower width) are
preferably
placed adjacent the soft material, and so forth, to provide a smooth
transition between soft
and hard support.
A double mattress structure 1 is good at accommodating the difference in
physiques between
husbands and wives. Firstly the mattress structure 1 can be divided into two
left and right
sides so that husband and wife each has his/her own kingdom. The waist and hip
relief layer
can be arranged according to needs and so is the hardness/softness. In one
embodiment, the
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
mattress structure 1 is made up of at least three layers of different
materials, different density
with different functions placed one above the other. The lowest is the support
layer 4 which
may come in with two or more softness/hardness. The middle layer is the relief
layer 5 which
may come in with different thicknesses, 3 inches or 4 inches and each
thickness may come in
with two or more relief abilities. The uppermost layer is the comfort layer 3
which may come in
with two or more degrees of hardness/softness. The three layers permit at
least 16
combinations of mattresses with different softness/hardness. This allows users
to easily pick
a suitable mattress structure. The main function of the mattress structure is
to support the
various parts of the body and the best method of supporting is to relief and
disperses
pressure.
The main advantage of the mattress structure 1 is its flexibility. From the
perspective of a
double bed, the mattress structure 1 is divided into left and right
independent sides. The user
of one side can select and adjust his/her side of the mattress structure 1
according to
physique, sleeping habits and preferences to customize that side of the
mattress structure
which provides an optimal softness/harness and degree of relief. At the same
time minimize
the interference between the two persons and establish a common yet
independent sleeping
space.
On a personal level, in addition to supporting the main pressure points,
namely the shoulders
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and hips, the mattress structure 1 caters for needs brought about by physical
changes. We
already know that the shoulder bones and the pelvis are the main zones that
need pressure
relieve. This is relatively easy to understand but many do not realize that
these needs change
continuously according to the body condition, age, habits or work patterns of
the user.
For example, for a pregnant woman, during pregnancy, the baby's weight, the
additional
burden to the mother's waist and the cramping on the legs changes the needs of
female user
towards a mattress structure. When the waist needs special support, on one
hand there is a
need for harder material to support the bones in the waist and on the other
hand the need of a
more comfortable and softer material to relax the fascia. When the leg of the
user cramps, the
leg support zone of the mattress structure 1 can be heightened to lift the
legs slightly higher
for improving blood circulation and soothing the cramp.
Another example would be back pain and shoulder pain resulting from short term
violent
exercise or from a change in the work pattern such as typing. The user may
change the
pressure relief material of the mattress structure 1 according to needs. The
features of
diversification and multi-combination satisfy needs of different users in
different stages of
his/her life. This most simple and universal design provides a support
portfolio which is
easiest to change, adjust and alter. The invention make the mattress structure
1 easy to
manipulate and very personal. In one embodiment, the top layer of the mattress
structure 1 is
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
transparent or translucent which allows the consultant to study the main
pressure points of
the customer for creating a personalized mattress structure 1.
A conventional mattress is heavy and clumsy. It takes a lot of effort and
strength to change
the bed sheets and covers. Also it is common practice to periodically turn
over the mattress to
avoid physical strain on certain parts of the mattress. People may be injured
trying to change
the bed sheets or to turn the mattress over. It is a waste of energy. This
mattress structure 1 is
made up of pieces and can easily be disassembled for transport. It is light
and convenient to
carry.
If some of the main relief zones or units are strained due to long term usage,
that zone or unit
can be readily replaced without too much effort, not like a conventional
spring mattress. If a
mattress is disposed because a small part of it is strained or depressed, this
creates a
massive waste and against the economic principle. The mattress structure 1 is
very
environmental unfriendly. The mattress structure 1 is made up of small and
light units which
allows the user to easily and effortlessly adjust or DIY the mattress
structure according to
needs. It is easy even to adjust the mattress structure daily.
There are mattresses filled with wasted material in the market and it is
impossible to open the
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
mattress for checking. People usually spend 1/3 of his/her time in bed and the
hygiene of the
mattress is important. The mattress itself is a hotbed of mites and bacteria.
A mattress can be
used for decades. In other words, the user is spending a lot of time with the
mites and
bacteria.
In view of the above problems, this mattress structure 1 is an open design
which solves all the
aforementioned problems. Firstly the mattress structure 1 is openable and each
part is readily
freely arrangeable by the user. The structure of the mattress is clear. The
mattress structure 1
allows the user to see the inside of it and to arrange it according to
physiques and sleeping
habits, self-adjusting the main relief ability and the arrangement of the
units, move up or down
the relief units and may select material of different thickness, independently
change or
replace any one of the relief units. This is in line with the environmental
friendly sprit.
As the mattress structure 1 is an open mattress, user may add on different
accessories to
improve comfort and increase the effect of the system. For example in winter a
heated
mattress may be inserted and in summer a cooled mattress may be inserted or
even a
massaging mattress may be added.
The relief layer 5 can be disassembled. Customer or user may purchase the
relief layer 5
independently and may flexibly place the relief layer 5 on any conventional
mattress to
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
strengthen the pressure relief ability of the conventional mattress. The
relief layer 5 may then
form a corrective system for conventional mattress.
The internal components of this mattress structure 1 may be moved around and
tailored to
the body shape of the individual, thanks to the two high-end core pressure
relievers for the
shoulders and hip. As the positions of shoulders and hip would not be the same
for people
with different body shapes, customers with a larger body or special body shape
such as one
with kyphosis may move around the internal components to tailor to their
needs.
Not only does the invention of this mattress structure 1 improve sleep
quality, but also the
quality and comfort of life, owing to its lightweight and convenience,
sanitation and safety as
well as material saving property, therefore effectively and sustainably
balancing the
eco-environment.
Years of studies by sleep experts discovered that even though the majority of
people prefer
sleeping on their back or side, a small number of them prefer sleeping on
their stomach. In
addition, many people of the present day hire masseurs for massage or
physiotherapy at
home, leading the need to lie often on their stomach. Unless an additional
massage table is
used at home, lying on the stomach may lead to bending of the neck, hindering
smooth
breathing and adversely causing strain to the neck and shoulders. There is
however no
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
mattress that can satisfy the special needs of these people, while this
breakthrough invention
can even cater for such minority of people.
In a different embodiment, the mattress structure 1 may be a changeable
mattress structure
1A or 1B. The mattress structure 1A can be changed from a mattress structure
to a massage
mattress structure 1B. As shown in Figures 17 to 20F, the mattress structure
1A/1B includes a
relief layer, a support layer 4, a comfort later 3, a chassis 2 and a cover 6.
These parts are
arrange in a similar way as in mattress structure 1. Mattress structure 1A/1B
is different from
mattress structure 1 mainly at the first zone 71 in the relief layer 5. The
first zone 71 of the
relief layer 5 of mattress structure 1A/1B has three relief units 51, 52 and
53 of a width 13, 10
and 2 inches respectively. The relief unit 51 also includes an aperture 10 for
accommodating
the face of a user. This aperture 10 can be aligned with an aperture 11 on the
cover 6, an
aperture 12 on the comfort layer 3 and an aperture 13 on the support layer 4
such that the
user's face does not need to directly press against the cover 6 and the relief
layer 5 which
would affect breathing.
When the mattress structure 1A is used as a mattress for sleep, as shown in
Figure 18 and
20A, the relief layer 5 is formed from the relief units 51 52 and 53 arranged
in order. The
aperture 10 may be filled with a filling. The aperture 11 on the cover, the
aperture 10 on the
relief unit 51, the aperture 13 on the support layer 4 and the aperture 12 on
the comfort layer
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
3 are not aligned. As shown in Figures 20C and 20F, the apertures 12 and 13
are provided on
the comfort layer 3 and support layer 4 respectively and are both 8 inches
away from a front
edge.
The chassis 2 includes air permeable aperture structure 14 which is in fluid
communication
with the aperture in the relief layer 5, the support layer 4 and the
cushioning layer / comfort
layer respectively.
The present invention is able to accommodate people of different preferences
including
sleeping on the side or on the back and firmness, as well as of different body
builds and
heights. The invention even caters for the minority who are used to sleeping
on their stomach.
Simply swapping some of the components in the first zone 71 creates a
breathing hole for
sleeping on the stomach. Therefore, people sleeping on their stomach no longer
need to
bend their cervical vertebrae, greatly reducing injury thereof. This device
also benefits people
having massage at home, as lying on the stomach is more comfortable and
preferred during
massage. With this mattress of novelty, a bent neck is no longer a compromise.
Similarly, this
mattress is useful for populations preferring a larger pillow or a square
pillow, such as people
from Germany and France.
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
As shown in Figures 19, 20B, 20D and 20E, the mattress structure 1A may be
changed or
rearranged to form mattress structure 1B. A filling is removed from the
aperture 10. The relief
unit 53 of the relief layer 5 can be moved ahead of relief unit 51. The relief
units 51 and 52 are
arranged in order in the direction of the arrow B. A side of the relief unit
51 is parallel with a
side of the mattress cover 6. At that time, the aperture 10 and apertures 11,
12 and 13 are
aligned to form an air passage. When the user is in the prone position over
the mattress
structure 1B, the air passage allows the user to breath without needing to
turn his/her neck.
Preferably, the chassis 2 has an air permeable structure 14 on the sides 22
and 24 and
together with the apertures 13, 12, 10 and 11 allow the user's face as well as
the mattress
structure 1B to be in air communication with the atmosphere. User may exhale
through these
holes 11, 10, 12 and 13 and the air permeable structure 14 to the atmosphere.
Preferably, the
air permeable structure includes one or more apertures.
As shown in Figures 22 to 24B, to suit the physique of the users of different
ethnic and
nationality, in another embodiment, as shown in Figures 21 to 24B, the
mattress structure 1
further includes a supplementary support unit 80 which may also be known as
"waist
protecting pad". As shown in Figures 24A and 24B, the supplementary support
unit 80 comes
in with two or more sizes and for each size with two or more degrees of
softness/hardness.
The supplementary support unit 80 may be placed between the mattress structure
3 and the
relief layer 5. As shown in Figures 31 to 23, the supplementary support unit
80 is placed
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
directly on the relief units 54 and 55 or the relief unit 54. The
supplementary support unit 80
together with the relief units 54 to 58 in the second zone 72 forms more than
100 different
combinations for accommodating the physique of different people and provide
more options.
The mattress of the present invention is used on a single side in a single
orientation, requiring
no labourious flipping. The comfort support of the mattress is two times to
that of a "double
sided mattress". With a thickness of 8", the mattress offers comfort similar
to a double sided
mattress of 16" in thickness. A double sided mattress requiring flipping has
to incorporate a
comfort layer on each side in its design, while unfortunately the user only
uses one side at
any one time, with the other side uselessly facing the bed frame. In contrast,
the mattress of
the present invention only has to be half the thickness of a double sided coil
mattress in order
to offer the same comfort. "Coilibre" (Figure 7) formulated by the inventor is
used in the
mattress in place of metal coils. The Coilibre is highly resilient, stable and
durable, without the
issues of metal fatigue or creakiness or the risk of piercing and injuring the
body. It is thus a
capable candidate for the supportive layer.
The present invention is a breakthrough in terms of its openness. Being open
means that the
core material can be examined, providing peace of mind when sleeping. Further,
the core
material can be taken out for cleaning and sanitizing or deodorizing. Another
benefit achieved
by this kind of openness is the combination of health, comfort and
environmental friendliness.
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
,
The invention is the first mattress available for "separate sale": any part of
the mattress
structure 1, including supporters 41 to 43 and relievers 51 to 59, can be
purchased and
replaced separately. The open design of the mattress of the present invention
offers
convenience for the user to examine the usage of the mattress from time to
time, as well as to
adjust and arrange a combination suitable for their own body shape and height.
When a
certain part is damaged, the part in question can be repaired or replaced
separately, without
resorting to disposing of the whole mattress or withstanding undesirable
support. Disposal of
a mattress may be wastage and not environmentally friendly, yet withstanding
undesirable
support for a long term is unquestionably unhealthy. The choice between these
two has been
baffling a lot of people, yet will no longer be the case.
The comfort layer 3 and the mattress cover 6 can be removed from the relief
layer 5, the
support layer 4 and any conventional mattress for independent cleaning. Under
different
weather conditions, the comfort layer 3 or the mattress cover 6 made of a
different material
may be used. Under severe cold weather, one can use a bed cover of thicker
material such
as down, wool, or even fur. Under hot weather, the comfort layer 3 or the
mattress cover 6
may be made of bamboo or vine knitted material or wood recycled fiber. The
mattress 1 helps
save energy and costs by requiring less air conditioning. It is comfortable
and healthy to use
and easy to clean as the mattress cover can be opened through a central
zipper. Under the
same temperature, the user, more afraid of cold, may retain the comfort layer
3 and the
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CA 02889930 2015-04-29
mattress cover 6 of thicker material and the other, more afraid of heat, may
continue to use
the more air permeable and cool material. Comfort layer 3 and mattress cover 6
made of
different materials can be applied to the same mattress 1.
This newly invented LEGO type assembly is light to carry and easy to
transport. This would
avoid the need of arranging delivery resulting in waste time and resources.
The present invention is conceived with a great long-term vision to protect
the spine of the
human body as preparation for longer lifespan, as well as pragmatic missions
at hand to
improve sleep quality and thus work efficiency, reduce work injury during
delivery and avoid
bacterial and mite infections. With this invention, sanitation can be
improved, and nasal and
skin allergies be reduced. Delivery of the mattress is made easier and the
user paying for the
mattress is free from the labour of frequent flipping of the mattress. Another
thoughfful quality
of this invention is the novel "fashionability" of the face of the mattress,
being changeable to
match the current season. It is the first mattress available for separate sale
in parts, thereby
reducing wastage and carbon emissions. Serving the whole humanity and
addressing major
as well as minor issues, the mattress can be described as the invention of the
century.
Another aspect of this invention is related to a method that makes use of the
special property
or feature of the mattress 1 to allow the user to understand and adapt to the
use of and the
mattress 1 per se. The mattress 1 includes a relief layer 5. The relief layer
5 is made up of two
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or more independent relief units 51 to 59. These relief units 51 to 59 are
disassembled,
inter-changeable or moveable. At least some of the relief units 51 to 59 are
inter-changeable.
The relief layer 5 can be divided into two or more relief zones and these
zones are divided or
assigned to accommodate various parts of the user's body. One of more of the
relief zones is
formed from two or more different sized relief units 51 to 59 and at least one
of the relief units
51 to 59 is the main relief unit which provides relatively greater degree of
relief comparing to
the other relief units in the same zone. The relief units 51 to 59 within a
relief zone are
interchangeable to relocate or to change the relative position of the main
relief unit within a
zone for accommodating people with different heights, legs of different length
etc. In
accordance with the needs of a user, the relative position of the main relief
unit in the relief
zone can be changed for testing a sample of the mattress to further understand
the use of the
mattress 1. This also helps the user to determine whether the mattress 1 is
suitable for him or
her. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the relief units 51 to 59 may have
different widths. By
interchanging or exchanging the relief units 51 to 59, the mattress 1 or the
relief layer 5 may
be made suitable for different users with different waist length or back
length. As the relief
units 51 to 59 are disassemblable, cleaning of the sample relief layer 5 is
very convenient. It
is also relatively easier to carry by the customer comparing to a conventional
mattress. When
one of the relief units worn out, it can be replaced independent from other
relief units.
The aforementioned special features of the relief layer 5 allow the seller to
offer samples for
testing by customers. Customer may carry with them a sample or a sample may be
delivered
to the customer. The sample must be returned after testing for testing by
other customers to
minimize wastage. The seller is provided with a detection device to detect and
identify the
individual customer's need or preferred relief units 51 to 59 arrangement and
position of the
main relief unit 52 and 56 relative to the other relief units 51 to 59. The
seller may then design
a customized arrangement schedule for each customer and pre-arrange the relief
units 51 to
59 according to the schedule for the customer before allowing the customer to
take away a
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mattress. Even if the relative positions of the relief units 51 to 59 are
disarranged, the user
may follow the schedule to rearrange them accordingly. After testing, the
customer will be well
aware as to whether the relief layer 5 and the particular arrangement of the
relief unit satisfy
his/her needs. Testing also allow the customer to adapt. The customer may
freely change or
interchange the relative position of the relief units 51 to 59 in the sample
until the relief layer 3
satisfies his/her needs. Preferably, the customer may take the sample back
home and make
use of the testing period, for example 10 days or two weeks, for thorough
testing of the
sample. Further, the seller may require the customer to prepay the price of a
brand new relief
layer 5 or pay a deposit and requires the customer to take away a sample for
testing within a
specified period of time. This is to ensure that the customer is able to test
the sample without
interruption. This will allow the customer to clearly understand his/her
needs. If after testing,
the customer still prefers to have his/her own relief layer 5, he or she can
confirm at the
selling point that he/she is able to adapt to the use of the product and may
take away a brand
new relief layer 5 which is prepaid for. Or the customer, when confirming at
the selling point,
may request the relief layer 5 to be delivered to a specific place e.g. home.
If the customer
decides not to continue with the use of the relief layer 5 after testing, the
sample may be
returned and the prepaid amount may be used in exchange for other products.
That way, the
customer will be clearly aware whether the product satisfies his or her needs
and more
importantly whether they are able to adapt to the use of such a relief layer
5. This also
minimize wastage by avoiding the throwing away of an unsuitable mattress. This
prevents the
seller from repackaging the sample for selling as brand new products.
The returned relief layer and mattress cover are cleaned thoroughly. The
cleaned, cleansed
and sterilized relief layer and mattress cover can be used by another client
for sample testing.
On the other hand, during customer testing, the seller may provide a cleanable
and
removable mattress cover for covering the sample relief layer. The seller may
further provide
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a chassis 2 for fixing the relative positions of the relief units 51 to 59.
Preferably the sample of relief layer 5 is a compulsory step before purchasing
a relief layer 5.
Preferably the sample relief layer has a size different from a conventional
mattress. The
sample has a length of 72 inches and a width of 30 inches to avoid confusion
between the
sample and the actual product and to avoid selling of the sample in lieu of
the actual product.
Preferably, the sample relief layer is contained in a small box for ease of
transport.
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