Mattress

Claim 2

In a mattress comprising a single layer of a resilient material and having a generally planar body-supporting top surface and a generally planar support-engaging bottom surface, the improvement which comprises: first and second pluralities of individual ribs of less compressibility than the material of said mattress extending transversely through said mattress, the ribs of each plurality being spaced apart laterally of each other in the longitudinal direction of the mattress whereby each said individual rib is independently compressible, said first and second pluralities being spaced apart longitudinally of the mattress and positioned to support only the shoulders and buttocks of one lying on the mattress, the lesser resilience of the ribs complementing the greater resilience of the mattress material to support the body lying on the mattress in a generally straight attitude.

Claim 3

The mattress of claim 1 wherein at least one of said pluralities of ribs includes ribs of various cross sections.

Claim 4

The mattress of claim 1 wherein the ribs of at least one of said pluralities are spaced apart vertically from each other in order to provide increased localized support.

Claim 5

In a multi-layered mattress, including: a lower layer having a support-engaging bottom surface and a generally planar top surface, and an upper layer having a bottom surface engaging the top surface of the lower layer and a top, body-supporting surface, the improvement which comprises: a first set of ribs of less compressibility than the upper layer extending transversely across and upwardly from the planar top surface of the lower layer into complementary recesses in the bottom surface of the upper layer, said ribs of said first set being spaced apart laterally from each other in the longitudinal direction of the mattress within said first set, and a second set of ribs of less compressibility than the upper layer spaced longitudinally from the first set on the lower layer and extending transversely across and upwardly from the top planar surface of the lower layer into complementary recesses in the bottom surface of the upper layer, said ribs in said second set being spaced apart laterally from each other in the longitudinal direction of the mattress, said first and second sets being spaced apart longitudinally of the mattress and positioned to support the shoulders and buttocks of one lying on the mattress, the lesser compressibility of the ribs complementing the resilience of the upper layer to support the body lying on the mattress in a straight attitude.

Claim 6

In a multi-layered mattress, including: a lower layer having a support-engaging bottom surface and a generally planar top surface, and an upper layer having a bottom surface engaging the top surface of the lower layer and a top, body-supporting surface, the improvement which comprises: a first set of ribs of less compressibility than the upper layer extending transversely across and upwardly from the planar top surface of the lower layer into complementary recesses in the bottom surface of the upper layer, said ribs of said first set being spaced apart laterally from each other in the longitudinal direction of the mattress within said first set, and a second set of ribs of less compressibility than the upper layer spaced longitudinally from the first set on the lower layer and extending transversely across and upwardly from the top planar surface of the lower layer into complementary recesses in the bottom surface of the upper layer, said ribs in said second set being spaced apart laterally from each other in the longitudinal direction of the mattress, said first and second sets being spaced apart longitudinally of the mattress and positioned to support the shoulders and buttocks of one lying on the mattress, the lesser compressibility of the ribs complementing the resilience of the upper layer to support the body lying on the mattress in a straight attitude.

Claim 7

The mattress of claim 4 wherein the resilience of the material of the upper layer is greater than the resilience of the material of the lower layer.

Claim 8

The mattress of claim 4 wherein the resilience of the material of the upper and lower layers is substantially the same.

Claim 9

The mattress of claim 4 wherein the ribs of at least one set are of various transverse cross sections.

Claim 10

The mattress of claim 4 wherein each said set of ribs further includes ribs extending exclusively through one of said upper and lower layers.

Claim 11

The mattress of claim 4 wherein the ribs of at least one set are discontinuous.

Claim 12

In a multi-layer mattress, including: a lower layer having a generally planar, supportengaging bottom surface and a generally planar top surface, and an upper layer having a bottom surface engaging the top surface of the lower layer and a generally planar top, body-supporting surface, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of flat support members of greater rigidity than said layers disposed between said layers over substantially the entire area of the top surface of the lower layer whereby increased support is provided to relatively heavy areas of the body of a user lying on the top surface of the upper layer.

Claim 13

In a multi-layer mattress, including: a lower layer having a generally planar, supportengaging bottom surface and a generally planar top surface, and an upper layer having a bottom surface engaging the top surface of the lower layer and a generally planar top, body-supporting surface, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of flat support members of greater rigidity than said layers disposed between said layers over substantially the entire area of the top surface of the lower layer whereby increased support is provided to relatively heavy areas of the body of a user lying on the top surface of the upper layer.

Claim 14

The mattress of claim 10 wherein said support members are disposed within recesses formed in the top surface of the lower layer.

Claim 15

The mattress of claim 10 wherein said support members are fixed to the top surface of the lower layer.

Claim 16

The mattress of claim 10 wherein means are provided to secure each said support member to other support members in said plurality.

Claim 17

The mattress of claim 10 wherein a number of said support members are of thickness greater than that of the remainder of said support members.

Claim 18

The mattress of claim 14 wherein said relatively thick support members are positioned to support only the shoulders and buttocks of a user.

Claim 19

The mattress of claim 10 wherein said support members are disposed within recesses formed in the bottom surface of the upper layer.

Claim 20

The mattress of claim 10 wherein a plurality of said support members are disposed in recesses formed in the bottom surface of said upper layer and the remainder of said support members are disposed in recesses formed in the top surface of said lower layer.

Claim 21

the mattress of claim 17 wherein the members disposed in said recesses in said upper layer bottom surface are positioned to support only the shoulders and buttocks of a user.

Claim 22

The mattress of claim 17 wherein the members disposed in said recesses in said lower layer top surface are positioned to support only the shoulders and buttocks of a user.

Claim 23

The mattress of claim 10 wherein said rigid support members comprise longitudinal ribs.

Claim 24

The mattress of claim 20 wherein said ribs are discontinuous in the longitudinal direction of said ribs.

Claim 25

The mattress of claim 20 wherein the longitudinal dimension of said ribs is less than the transverse dimension of said mattress, and each said rib is positioned generally centrally of said mattress with respect to the transverse direction of said mattress.

Claim 26

The mattress of claim 10 wherein said support members comprise plates.