Mattress repair apparatus
Inactive Publication Date: 2006-06-08
CLARK TED D +1
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- Application Information
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Benefits of technology
[0025] This application is for a new apparatus and process for repairing mattresses using inflatable sections that can be folded under each other in order to be able to effectively repair any size mattress. The preferred embodiment is created by joining the top and bottom of two sheets of flexible but air tight material together so as to form individual air cells, each with a separate manifold for inflation, all of which are connected to a common area at one end of the apparatus. This enables the repair process to be accomplished faster and more accurately on any size mattress, allows one size of apparatus to be able to repair any mattress, and comprises a device which is simpler and more economical to manufacture than any currently available.
Problems solved by technology
Sagging mattresses have been a problem for their users far into the distant past.
Frequent use of any mattress over time tends to result in uneven areas caused by the increased pressure repeatedly caused in specific areas by parts of the user's body while sleeping on the mattress.
A typical mattress today may cost hundreds of dollars.
Frequently the replacement of a mattress which is sagging or has become uncomfortably uneven is prohibitively expensive for many consumers.
In some cases it may not be viable as an option, such as when the mattress is rented from a landlord as part of a furnished apartment.
This occurs because weight distribution eventually exerts enough pressure on the inner components of a mattress to create a depression or weak spot.
Some consumers find that their mattresses hold integrity for quite a long time, while many others have a problem with sagging after just a year or two, or even less.
There are very limited remedies for a sagging mattress.
Some people have put boards under their mattresses, but this doesn't restore the original shape and provide adequate support.
However, the costs of shipping and the work entailed with repair can be quite significant.
This remedy is also largely ineffective because most people cannot be without a mattress for any length of time.
However, each one of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: 1) Some other remedies only place a single inflatable chamber or a relatively small footprint under a sagging mattress.
Furthermore, a single small footprint can create a wobbly condition and instability over the repair site.
Even when a multitude of lobes is used, if these designs do not separately inflate each lobe, such devices are not truly customizable.
To have to install different size elements to repair a mattress is complicated and confusing for consumers; 3) Unlike the present apparatus, other remedies cannot be efficiently used to fix all sizes of mattresses and types of sagging problems.
Such remedies if used would have to be delivered in large, bulky packages which are inconvenient for the consumer; 6) Baffle systems which are complicated and expensive to manufacture must be installed with some remedies to prevent individual cells from flattening out in unwanted shapes; 7) Different size cells stacked on top of each other must be used with some other systems to allow a higher point at one part of the underside of the mattress than another.
Stacking cells on top of each other tends to result in slippage, instability and concurrent recurrence of sagging of the mattress attempting to be repaired; 8) Other systems use expensive and complicated to manufacture barrier systems to prevent collapse of the inflatable cells to an unusable height.
9) Other systems utilize complicated and expensive to manufacture valves, piping systems, fluid exhaust control systems, pressure relief valves, pressure monitoring systems, interconnected ports, regulator control systems, zippers, continuous air or fluid monitoring systems making the system uneconomical to manufacture are used.
11) Some are only designed to be used when originally built into the mattress or bed assembly and cannot be used optionally to inexpensively repair a sagging mattress.
13) Unlike the preferred embodiment, fill valves on other systems are much more complicated to operate.
14) Also unlike the preferred embodiment, other system's manifolds are not integrated into the cells, necessitating separate cumbersome tube systems.
Because new mattresses are very expensive, this new process of repair will make economic sense for many consumers.
Method used
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[0073] The invention described herein is a new apparatus which can be used to quickly repair an uneven mattress at a low cost. It has the ability to both leave certain cells uninflated, as well as to fold unused cells underneath ones being used. This allows it to fit under, and repair any size mattress. As a result, this apparatus can be used with any size mattress that has lost its original shape and is sagging and uncomfortable in one or more spots.
[0074] The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of separately inflatable air cells which can be placed under a mattress directly underneath the sagging or depressed areas of the mattress using a firm foundation such as a box spring. The apparatus has the advantage of being able to repair any size mattress because it can be folded under itself until it fits under the size of mattress to be repaired. When the user places the sagging mattress over the inflatable air cells, and inflates each air cell necessary with an inflation means to a...
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A new apparatus and process for repairing any mattress using inflatable cells that can be folded under each other in order to be able to effectively repair one or more sagging areas of any size mattress. The preferred embodiment has a built in manifold created by joining the top and bottom of two sheets of flexible but air tight material together so as to form a plurality of individual air cells, each with a separate manifold connected to a separate valve means, with all of the valve means being located at a common area at one end of the apparatus.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of the provisional patent application No. 60 / 633,285 filed Dec. 3, 2004 with the United States Patent Office.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] No Federal money or grant was used in the development of this invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Sagging mattresses have been a problem for their users far into the distant past. Frequent use of any mattress over time tends to result in uneven areas caused by the increased pressure repeatedly caused in specific areas by parts of the user's body while sleeping on the mattress. [0004] The sale of new mattresses is a large segment of the retail market. According to conservative estimates, the current retail market for new mattresses in the United States is in excess of seven billion dollars per year. Most households have more than one mattress and sometimes there are several mattresses in a household. The num...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): A47C31/00A47C27/10
CPCA47C21/06
InventorCLARK, TED D.MERONOFF, LORRIN
OwnerCLARK TED D