Mattress retainer for adjustable bed

#The present invention relates to a mattress retainer for an adjustable bed. More particularly, the invention relates to a retainer for preventing a mattress from sliding toward the foot of the bed when the portion of the mattress under the user's back and head is raised.

#Adjustable beds have found widespread use beyond nonambulatory patients and are used in many homes among persons of all age groups, in particular beds that raise the head and back area. Among the devices used to raise the back and head are inflatable air bladders intended for use with conventional beds. However, frequently when the mattress is raised to its high point the bladder tends to slip out from between the mattress and the bed foundation or box springs. A number of patents have recognized this problem. For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,412 and 3,606,623 to Aymar provide a bedrest having a bellows placed under a mattress and filled with compressed air. To solve the problem, the bellows are preferably attached to the frame of the bed by straps. In addition, the bed rest includes plastic sheets that enclose the bellows and fit directly under the mattress to properly position the bellows.

#Stabilizing the inflatable air bladders increases the tendency of the mattress to slide toward the foot of the bed when the air bladder is inflated. This problem has also been recognized. For example, the adjustable bed shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,783 includes a hinged frame including inflatable bags is provided between a mattress and a box springs to individually elevate the different portions of the mattress. The inflatable bags are tied to the frame and the mattress is tied to the box springs and the frame.

#Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention have been stated, other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustable bed according to the present invention showing the back and head portion of the mattress in an elevated position and showing an embodiment of the mattress retainer between the mattress and the foundation;

#FIG. 2 shows the mattress retainer of FIG. 1 without the mattress and having a rigid second retaining member resting on the bed foundation without the mattress;

#The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

#Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an adjustable bed 10 for use with the present invention. The bed 10 is generally rectangular and has conventional box springs or other suitable foundation 12, a mattress 14. In other words the bed used with the present invention may be a conventional bed. The mattress 14 has a head/back portion 15 and a foot portion 17. An inflatable bladder 16 having an air supply tube 18 for inflating and deflating the bladder is provided for raising and lowering the head portion 15 of the mattress. The bladder 16 is preferably wedge shaped with a uniform height and width that extends at least most of the way across the width of the mattress 14. A mattress retainer 20 placed between the mattress 14 and the foundation 12. The position of the head/back portion 15 of mattress 14 is controlled by inflating and deflating air chamber 16 to raise or lower head/back portion mattress as desired to the comfort of the user resting on the mattress. The term foundation is used herein to include a conventional box springs or any such other component of a bed on which a mattress may rest. Of course the foundation may rest on a bed frame or the floor.

#The mattress retainer 20 includes a first retaining member 22 that extends between the mattress and the foundation or box springs toward the foot portion 17 of the bed a sufficient distance to make contact with both the mattress and the foundation or box springs to increase the friction sufficiently to prevent slippage of the mattress 14 when the head/back portion 15 of the mattress is raised by inflating the bladder 16. It should be understood that the shape and size of said first retaining member 22 is only limited by the necessity of creating a friction between the mattress and foundation. The first retaining member 22 is attached to a second retaining member 24. The first retaining member 22 may be made of any material and size so long as when it is attached to the second retaining member 24 sufficient friction is present to prevent slippage of the mattress when the head/back is raised.