Mattress

Abstract

The invention relates to a mattress (1, 1′, 2, 3) having at least one first layer (10, 20, 30), a second layer (12, 22, 32) and a third layer (14, 24, 34), the second layer (12, 22, 32) comprising spring elements (16, 26, 36) and being interposed between the first layer (10, 20, 30) and the third layer (14, 24, 34). The thickness (a.sub.1, a.sub.2, a.sub.3, d.sub.1, d.sub.2, d.sub.3, . . . , d.sub.10) of the third layer (14, 24, 34) varies locally to an extent that exceeds the extent defined by a surface structure of the third layer (14, 24, 34) on its exterior surface (17).

Claims

1. A mattress, comprising: a longitudinal extent with a head region; a shoulder region; a hip region; a foot region; at least one first layer; a second layer; a third layer; and a plurality of recesses in the at least one first layer and/or in the third layer, wherein the second layer comprises spring elements and is arranged between the at least one first layer and the third layer, wherein a thickness of the third layer, which is defined as a distance of an outer surface, which faces away from the second layer, of the third layer from the second layer, varies locally to an extent which goes beyond an extent which is predetermined by a surface structure of the third layer on the outer surface, wherein the variation in the thickness of the third layer occurs in a direction of the longitudinal extent, wherein the mattress also extends in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent, wherein the thickness of the third layer in the transverse direction remains constant at different points of the longitudinal extent, wherein the plurality of recesses extends with a constant cross section in the transverse direction, wherein the cross section of the plurality of recesses is dependent on the thickness of the third layer, wherein recesses of the third layer are largest at an average thickness and smaller at a thickness greater than the average thickness, wherein the recesses of the third layer are smaller at a thickness smaller than the average thickness than the grooves at the average thickness.

2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the third layer is flat at least in sections.

3. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the third layer is continuously flat.

4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the variation in the thickness of the third layer is continuous in one direction.

5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the third layer initially decreases and then increases again in the direction of the longitudinal extent.

6. The mattress of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the third layer decreases in the direction of the longitudinal extent in different regions which are separated by at least one region having an increasing thickness of the third layer, and/or increases in different regions which are separated by at least one region having a decreasing thickness of the third layer.

7. The mattress of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the at least one first layer, which is defined as a distance of an outer surface which points away from the second layer, of the at least one first layer from the second layer, increases in a direction in which the thickness of the third layer decreases, and wherein the thickness of the at least one first layer decreases in a direction in which the thickness of the third layer increases.

8. The mattress of claim 7, wherein a variation in the thickness of the at least one first layer takes place to an extent which is at least two thirds a thickness of the second layer.

9. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the variation in the thickness of the third layer takes place to an extent which is at least two thirds of a thickness of the second layer.

10. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the at least one first layer and/or the third layer comprises foamed material.

11. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the spring elements comprise pocket springs, spring cores and/or foamed material springs.

12. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the spring elements comprise foamed material springs having a tubular, resilient body composed of foamed material and forming an outer wall, with holes which extend inward from an outer surface to an inner surface, wherein the holes are arranged in staggered symmetry and are substantially diamond-shaped, and wherein the tubular body has the holes only over a limited part of a surface of the tubular body, the limited part alternating regularly with a limited part of the surface that is not provided with the holes and that forms longitudinally directed reinforcing ribs in the wall of the tubular body.

Description

(1) Preferred embodiments of the mattress according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the mattress according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the mattress from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the mattress from FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the mattress according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the mattress from FIG. 4, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the mattress according to the invention.

(8) A mattress, which is denoted overall by 1, according to a first embodiment comprises a first layer 10 of foamed material, a second layer 12 of spring elements 16, and a third layer 14 of foamed material. The spring elements 16 can be composed of metal or can be designed in the manner of the foamed material spring element according to EP 2 421 410 B1. As is apparent in a longitudinal section from FIG. 2, in the case of the mattress 1 the thickness a.sub.1, a.sub.2, a.sub.3 of the third layer 14 varies over the longitudinal extent. The longitudinal extent corresponds to the x axis, which is shown in FIG. 1. The transverse extent of the mattress corresponds to the y axis shown in FIG. 1. The thickness extends along the z axis. The thickness of the third layer is defined as the distance between the surface 17 of the third layer 14, which surface faces away from the second layer 12, from the second layer 12. In the case of the mattress 1, the thickness in the head region is a.sub.1 and is reduced up to a shoulder region a.sub.2. Further in the x direction toward the feet, the thickness then increases further to the size a.sub.3, in order then to be reduced again at the foot end to a.sub.4. In other words, the thickness of the mattress decreases once, then increases again and then decreases again slightly. The shape approximately follows a sine curve, but is not limited thereto. The mattress 1 has a substantially cuboid shape: the thickness of the first layer 10 increases to the extent that the thickness of the third layer 14 decreases, and vice versa, and therefore the overall thickness remains constant when the thickness of the second layer 12 remains the same.

(9) In the case of the mattress 1, it is not envisaged that the thickness will vary in the transverse direction (according to the y axis). The surface 17 can be provided with fine structures, namely in particular in the form of recesses 18a, 18b and 18c, wherein the recesses 18a of the third layer 14 are largest at an average thickness, are very small in the event of a small size and are likewise very small at a great thickness, see reference signs 18b and 18c. The first layer has corresponding recesses, the cross section of which has a constant cross section over the transverse direction (y axis), see the recesses 19a and 19b in FIG. 1.

(10) In the case of the modification of the mattress 1′ according to FIG. 3, a fourth layer 21 is provided as a further layer, which fourth layer can likewise be composed of foamed material and, for example, is composed of a somewhat harder foamed material than the foamed material layers 10 and 14. The fourth layer 21 can equally also be composed of softer foamed material or of an entirely different material, such as, for example, a plastics sheet.

(11) In all of the embodiments of the invention, the foamed material of the entire mattress can be generally be of constant hardness in one layer or of varying hardness. In one embodiment, it is thus possible for the effect of a smaller or a greater thickness to be supported by varying the hardness of the foamed material, that is to say a smaller hardness is also present when the thickness is smaller and a greater hardness when the thickness is greater, or precisely an opposite effect is produced, i.e. a smaller hardness when the thickness is greater and a greater hardness when the thickness is smaller.

(12) In the case of the second embodiment of the mattress 2, shown in FIG. 4, the thickness of the mattress varies substantially more intensively. In a region w.sub.1 above the head, the thickness d.sub.1 is of average size in order to decrease to the region beyond the head to the thickness d.sub.2, wherein the thickness d.sub.3 is increased again where the head lies and the thickness d.sub.4 is decreased again where the neck lies. In the region of the shoulders, the thickness d.sub.5 is increased again, and is then decreased again to d.sub.6 in the following region of the upper body, is increased in the region of the posterior to d.sub.7, is reduced to d.sub.8 in the region of the thigh and knee, is increased again to d.sub.9 in the region of the feet and is decreased again to d.sub.10 at the foot end. The corresponding thicknesses d′.sub.1, d′.sub.2, d′.sub.3, . . . , d′.sub.10 of the first layer 20 vary in parallel in an opposed manner to the thickness of the first layer, and therefore for each d.sub.i, where i=1 to 10, the following always applies: d.sub.i+1+d′.sub.i=D, wherein D is a constant of the thickness of the mattress 2. In the example, for example, the distance w.sub.1 to w.sub.2 is 10 cm, w.sub.2 to w.sub.3 is 20 cm, w.sub.3 to D.sub.4 is 15 cm, w.sub.4 to w.sub.5 is 25 cm, w.sub.5 to w.sub.6 is 30 cm, w.sub.6 to w.sub.7 is 30 cm, w.sub.7 to w.sub.8 is 25 cm, w.sub.8 to w.sub.9 is 25 cm and w.sub.9 to w.sub.10 is 10 cm.

(13) The variation in the thickness, for example d.sub.1 minus d.sub.2, d.sub.2 minus d.sub.3, etc. is preferably greater at least for individual pairs of successive d.sub.i than the thickness of a spring element 1. Since the thickness of the second layer 22 directly corresponds to the thickness □ of the individual spring elements 26, the thickness of the third layer 24 and the thickness of the first layer 20 therefore vary to an extent which is greater than the thickness of the second layer 22. The extent of the variation is at least one third of the thickness □ of the second layer 22, preferably at least half and preferably at least two thirds.

(14) A common feature of the previously shown mattresses 1, 1′ and 2 is that foamed material springs which are tubular and quite long are used. FIG. 6 shows a modified form with the first layer 30, the second layer 32 and the third layer 34, which form differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that larger foamed material springs 36 are used.

(15) In all of the embodiments, owing to the fact that the thickness of the first layer and of the third layer change appropriately with respect to each other, it is ensured that the foamed material elements 16, 36 in a layer arranged two-dimensionally do not always stand parallel to the direction z of the thickness, but rather obliquely (also with respect to the perpendicular of the surface 17). A lateral deflection is thereby made possible. This increases the comfort when lying on the mattress. When different points of the body experience the thickness of the third layer 14, 24, 34 differently, depending on where a person lies and specifically transverse forces arise by means of the oblique position of the spring elements 16, 36, the person on the mattress feels particularly comfortable.