FOLDING STRUCTURE FOR MATTRESSES

Abstract

A folding structure for mattresses having a bearing surface and a support structure having at least one hinge area with the bearing surface and configured to fit externally to and removably from a mattress. The support structure may have a first dimension which is variable to fit the thickness of a mattress and a second dimension which is variable to change the position of the hinge area.

Claims

1. A folding structure for mattresses, the folding structure comprising: a bearing surface and a support structure, the support structure comprising at least one hinge area with the bearing surface, the support structure being configured to fit externally to and removably from a mattress.

2. The structure according to claim 1, the support structure having a first dimension which is variable to fit the thickness of a mattress.

3. The structure according to claim 1, the support structure having a second dimension which is variable to change the position of the hinge area.

4. The structure according to claim 1, the bearing surface being formed by a substantially rigid plane.

5. The structure according to claim 1, the bearing surface being formed by a perimetric structure surrounding an at least substantially flexible element.

6. The structure according to claim 2, including a pressing member intended for reducing said first dimension to adjust the support structure to the thickness of the mattress.

7. The structure according to claim 1, the hinge area being located proximate an edge of the mattress.

8. The structure according to claim 1, the support structure being formed by at least one C-shaped section member configured for fitting the thickness of a mattress.

9. The structure according to claim 1, the support structure being formed by at least one L-shaped section member configured for fitting the thickness of a mattress.

10. The structure according to claim 8, the support structure comprising two section members.

11. The structure according to claim 10, said section members of the support structure being connected by at least one cross member.

12. The structure according to claim 1, the support structure having a lower portion configured to be inserted into a base of a bed base, canap{tilde over (e)} or the like.

13. The structure according to claim 1, the bearing surface being configured for resting a person's head and/or feet.

14. The structure according to claim 1, the bearing surface being configured for being arranged in a substantially horizontal position to at least laterally extend the surface of a mattress.

15. The structure according to claim 1, the bearing surface being configured for being arranged in a substantially vertical position to act as a protective element.

16. The structure according to claim 1, further including a motor for driving the bearing surface causing it to be rotated at the hinge zone with respect to the bearing surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A non-limiting example of a folding structure for mattresses according to the present disclosure is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] In said drawings:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one particular example of two folding structures applied on a mattress;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding structures in FIG. 1, shown outside the mattress, for a better understanding,

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a folding structure according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, where it can be seen how the folding structure can be varied to fit the thickness of a mattress; and

[0023] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are schematic side elevational views of the example of the folding structure applied on a mattress illustrating the bearing surface in different angular positions and with the hinge area also shown in different positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, one or several folding structures 100 are illustrated. The folding structures 100 shown are intended to be applied on a conventional mattress 500, shown in FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, so that they can be removed therefrom.

[0025] The folding structures 100 shown by way of an example have a bearing surface 200 which is intended to place a person's head to rest (not shown). Other applications are also possible, such as for supporting person's feet or for placing several objects on said support surface 200, as if it were a removable bedside table.

[0026] The bearing surface 200 of the folding structure 100 is formed by a substantially rigid plane, in the non-limiting example shown in the figures. In said example, the bearing surface 200, which is intended to place a person's head to rest, i.e. to act as a headboard, is formed by a substantially rigid plane intended to receive a part of a topper mattress (not shown). The bearing surface 200 could, however, be formed by a perimetric structure surrounding an at least substantially flexible member, such as fabric, etc.

[0027] The folding structure 100 that is shown further includes a support structure 300. The support structure 300 serves the purpose of removably coupling the folding structure 100 to the mattress 500. In the example shown, the support structure 300 has two pairs of brackets. Each pair is formed by an upper bracket 305 and a lower bracket 310, which are described below.

[0028] Although not shown in the figures, the support structure 300 could include one or multiple brackets to join the brackets together and provide greater stability, especially if the spacing between said brackets is large. It is envisaged that the section members may be joined together even by a flat surface.

[0029] The upper bracket 305, in each pair of brackets, includes a substantially horizontal section in one portion of which a hinge zone 400 with the support surface 200 is formed. The bearing surface 200 may thus rotate about an axis passing through the hinge area 400 of each upper bracket 305. In some particular instances, it is possible to include several fixed hinge areas 400 in a same support structure 300 such that the bearing surface 200 is allowed to pivot in a suitable position.

[0030] The substantially horizontal portion of the upper bracket 305 is intended to be supported on the upper surface of the mattress 500. The upper bracket 305 in each pair of brackets further includes a substantially vertical section arranged to form an angle of approximately 90 to the substantially horizontal section.

[0031] The example shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the hinge area 400 is in a fixed position. However, such position may be variable, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. That is, a variable dimension could be defined so as to change the position of the hinge area 400 of the support structure 300 with the bearing surface 200. Said dimension of the support structure 300 could be a separation distance between the hinge area 400 and one edge 505 of the mattress 500. By way of an example, the hinge area 400 could be arranged proximate the edge 505 of the mattress 500 or at a distance away from it as desired. This could allow the bearing surface 200 to protrude from the contour of the mattress 500, if necessary.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it should be particularly emphasised that, depending on the position of the hinge area 400, the folding structure 100 may or may not allow the surface of the mattress 500 to be extended. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the hinge portion 400 is in a remote position away from the edge 505 of the mattress 500 towards the inside thereof at a distance equal to or substantially longer than one dimension of the bearing surface 200. Thus, by completely folding the bearing surface 200 on the mattress 500, said bearing surface 200 does not protrude therefrom, that is, it does not reach the edge 505 of the mattress 500. However, as it can be seen in the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, the hinge area 400 is in a position outside the contour of the mattress 500, or even in a position proximate the edge 505 of the mattress 500 but at a distance substantially less than one dimension of the bearing surface 200. Thus, by completely folding the bearing surface 200 on the mattress 500, as shown in FIG. 6, said bearing surface 200 protrudes therefrom, that is, it exceeds the edge 505 of the mattress 500 by a predetermined distance. In this way, the useful surface of the mattress 500 is expanded.

[0033] The lower bracket 310, in each pair of brackets, includes a substantially horizontal portion intended to be below the lower surface of the mattress 500. This substantially horizontal portion could be configured to be inserted into a bed base, canap or the like, where necessary. The lower bracket 310, in each pair of brackets, further includes a substantially vertical section arranged forming an angle of approximately 90 to the substantially horizontal section.

[0034] With particular reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, in each pair of brackets, the substantially vertical section of the upper bracket 305 and the substantially vertical section of the lower bracket 310 are configured such that they can be joined to each other at different portions thereof. This feature allows a dimension, corresponding in this case to the spacing between the substantially horizontal opposed sections of the same pair of brackets 305, 310, to be varied so that the folding structure 100 can conveniently be adapted to the thickness of the mattress 500. By making the relative position of each pair of brackets 305, 310 capable of being varied such that the separation distance can be modified, it is possible for the support structure 100 to be adapted to any type of mattress available on the market and can be removed from the mattress 500 in a quick, easy and comfortable way by the user. Although not shown, a pressure member could be included to reduce the spacing between the substantially horizontal opposed sections of the same pair of brackets 305, 310. This pressure member would enable the support structure 300 to be adjusted in a controlled manner to the thickness of the mattress 500 so that the folding structure 100 is mounted securely on the mattress 500 in the position of use.

[0035] The hinge area 400 of the support structure 300 allows the support surface 200 to be rotated at an appropriate angle within a range of possible angles, such as those represented by way of an example in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Thus, the bearing surface 200 may be slightly rotated, as shown in FIG. 4, to slightly tilt the user's head to rest normally in the bed. Although in the illustrated example, the bearing surface 200 acts as a headboard, the subject matter hereof is not limited to the inclination of the user's head but could be used to alternatively tilt other parts of the body such as the legs, the side, etc. The bearing surface 200 can be rotated to be arranged in a more vertical position, as shown in FIG. 5, to further tilt the user's head, e.g. for reading or watching TV on the bed. However, the bearing surface 200 is fully rotatable, as shown in FIG. 5, so as to be fully horizontal in order to extend the surface of the mattress 500. In addition to the folding positions of the bearing surface 200 shown by way of an example in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, many other different angular positions of the bearing surface 200 are possible including an at least substantially vertical position so that the bearing surface 200 acts as a barrier or protective element closing at least one portion of the perimeter of mattress 500. This allows prevention of babies, children, elderly, sick people, etc. from accidentally falling to the ground.

[0036] In the example shown in FIG. 1, two foldable structures 100 are shown applied to the same mattress 500. Each folding structure 100 has its own bearing surface 200 hinged to two corresponding support structures 300, each formed by two pairs of brackets. With such configuration, a mattress 500 that is provided with two independent headboards is obtained. However, the application of the present structure as a footboard, as a bedside table, etc. on the same mattress is not ruled out. The case where two bearing surfaces 200 share a support structure 300, i.e., the case where three pairs of brackets are used for two adjacent support surfaces 200, with the central pair of brackets being shared, is not ruled out.

[0037] The non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings allows having a reclining surface 200 in a same mattress 500, which can extend the effective surface of the mattress 500 if required, to provide at least one tilted surface for tilting the head, the feet or other part of the user's body, or even to provide a protective barrier by closing at least one portion of the perimeter of the mattress 500 preventing a person from falling to the ground. This is achieved with a structure 100 which is comfortable, easy and quick to use, with a very simple and effective configuration which can be removed from the mattress 500 easily, conveniently and quickly at any time by the user.

[0038] Although only one example of a folding structure for mattresses has been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents of said folding structure are possible for those skilled in the art. The scope of the present disclosure should not be therefore limited by the particular example described herein, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.