Mattress elevating foundation apparatus

Abstract

A bed elevating box spring foundation method and apparatus for use between a mattress and a bed frame. The bed elevating foundation apparatus is made of an outer substantially rigid frame and has opposite spaced apart first and second ends. The first end has a first height and the second end has a second height with the first height being greater than the second height. The bed elevating box spring foundation apparatus also has a top surface that extends substantially in a single angularly extending plane with respect to the ground surface. The box spring is inserted or otherwise disposed between the supported mattress and the underlying bed frame whereby the mattress first end is elevated above the mattress second end in a single angularly extending plane with respect to the ground surface. In one form, the box spring foundation includes a wedge-shaped foam member and in another includes a set of springs of varying heights.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 671,136, filed Apr. 14, 2005, the teachings of which are included herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND [0002] The present application relates in general to inclined sleep surfaces and, more specifically, to bed elevating methods and apparatus including a box spring that is insertable between a bed mattress and a bed frame, whereby the mattress is elevated at a substantially angularly extending plane that supports one end of the mattress at a height higher than the opposite end of the mattress relative to the bed frame. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,726 teaches an adjustable bed frame with a mattress tilting assembly having upper and lower support frames. The upper support frame is designed to carry a conventional box spring and a conventional mattress and is pivoted to the lower support frame so that the head portion of the mattress is raised higher than the foot port...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, a method is provided for elevating one end of a mattress higher than the opposite end of the mattress relative to a bed frame and underlying ground surface. The method includes selectively disposing a substantially truncated wedge-shaped box spring apparatus between an otherwise conventional mattress and bed frame or other support surface. The method has the effect of raising one end of the mattress relative to the opposite end in a single angularly extending plane.

[0012] The embodiments of the present invention provide numerous benefits particularly in connection with symptoms associated with medical conditions including acid reflux, snoring, and poor circulation. It is believed that sleeping in the position provided by the embodiments of the present application help many symptoms of these combinations by allowing users to lie from head to toe at a slightly declining slope which, preferably, is barely noticeable. The inclined sleep surface provided by embodiments of the invention provide a desirable arrangement to people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who heretofore have attempted to prop their heads with extra pillows to discourage the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. In accordance with the present application, the inclined sleep surface puts the entire body at an angle, helping discourage the backflow of acid. Further, the elevated foundation has the potential of helping prevent retraction of the tongue into the back of the throat thus blocking airways, one of the most common causes of snoring. The inclined sleep surface provided by the embodiments of the present application can help lessen both the frequency and intensity of snoring, resulting in a better night's sleep for the end user. Further, the symptoms of cramping, fatigue, swelling, and tired legs can be assisted by sleeping on an inclined surface of the present application which helps increase blood flow to these areas helping ease the discomfort associated with poor circulation.

Problems solved by technology

One problem associated with providing the mattress tilting function in the bed frame, however, is that the approach requires the use of separate rails, slats, supporting legs or operating levers.

The bed frames are typically comprised of metal members and, thus, are heavy, expensive, and difficult to install.

It is difficult, however, to provide a mattress of the type described above primarily because of the properties inherent in the nature of mattress construction.

Thus, the overall asymmetric construction property of mattresses of the type above must be provided by soft components within the mattress making them unstable, difficult to manufacture, or impractical.

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