Bed sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12239232-B2
Application number	US-202217683594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Mar 1, 2021
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A mattress system can include a foam layer positioned proximate a mattress top and having a head end, a foot end, and opposite lateral ends, a mattress core positioned under the foam layer, and a sensor strip. The sensor strip can include a carrier strip and a plurality of sensors attached to the carrier strip and spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the carrier strip. The carrier strip can be configured to be releasably attached to the foam layer. The carrier strip can also extend between the opposite lateral ends of the foam layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mattress system comprising:
a mattress comprising a top surface, a head end, a foot end, and opposite lateral ends; and
a sensor strip positioned on the top surface of the mattress, the sensor strip comprising:
a carrier strip extending at least partially between the opposite lateral ends of the mattress, the carrier strip having a longitudinal direction that extends between the opposite lateral ends of the mattress, the carrier strip comprising a first strip surface oriented to face the top surface of the mattress and a second strip surface opposite the first strip surface oriented to face away from the top surface of the mattress;
a fastener coupled to the first strip surface of the carrier strip and the mattress, the fastener configured to releasably attach the carrier strip to the mattress; and
a plurality of sensors attached to the first strip surface of the carrier strip, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip along the first strip surface.

2. The mattress system of claim 1 , further comprising: a mattress cover disposed on a foam layer and covering a top surface of the foam layer, at least partially covering the opposite lateral ends, and at least partially covering the sensor strip, wherein the mattress cover is free of the carrier strip that is attached to the foam layer.

3. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are stitched to the carrier strip.

4. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are attached to the carrier strip by adhesive.

5. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises: a first fastener coupled to the carrier strip, the first fastener configured to be releasably attached to a foam layer, a second fastener coupled to the foam layer, the second fastener configured to releasably attach the first fastener of the carrier strip, and the first and second fasteners comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.

6. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is spaced five inches apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip.

7. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor strip comprises micro-hooks configured to releasably attach directly to a surface of a foam layer.

8. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the carrier strip is configured to extend between a midpoint of a foam layer and a location that is a predetermined distance away from an edge of a first lateral end of the opposite lateral ends of the foam layer, wherein the carrier strip does not extend over the edge of the first lateral end of the opposite lateral ends of the foam layer.

9. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the carrier strip does not extend over either of opposite sides of a foam layer, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprise wires, the wires being collectively routed over an edge of a first lateral end of the opposite lateral ends of the foam layer and down one of the opposite sides of the foam layer.

10. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise wires, the wires being collectively routed through at least one hole defined through a foam layer.

11. The mattress system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor strip further comprises a plurality of additional materials, wherein each material of the plurality of additional materials are ultrasonically welded to the carrier strip between each of the plurality of sensors in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip.

12. The mattress system of claim 11 , wherein at least one material of the plurality of additional materials forms at least one of (i) a circle around at least one of the plurality of sensors and (ii) a triangle around at least one of the plurality of sensors.

13. The mattress system of claim 11 , wherein at least one material of the plurality of additional materials forms a square around at least one of the plurality of sensors.

14. The mattress system of claim 11 , wherein at least one material of the plurality of additional materials extends a length between two consecutive sensors of the plurality of sensors in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip.

15. The mattress system of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of additional materials is welded to the carrier strip in welding locations that straddle a wire that connects the plurality of sensors in series in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip.

16. A sensor strip configured to be placed on a top surface of a mattress, the top surface of the mattress defining a first portion and a second portion separate from the first portion, the sensor strip comprising including:
a carrier strip having a first strip portion positioned above the first portion of the top surface of the mattress and a second strip portion positioned above the second portion of the top surface of the mattress, the carrier strip comprising a first strip surface oriented to face the top surface of the mattress and a second strip surface opposite the first strip surface oriented to face away from the top surface of the mattress;
a plurality of first sensors attached to the first strip surface of the first strip portion of the carrier strip and spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the carrier strip, the plurality of first sensors configured to sense a condition at the first portion of the top surface of the mattress;
a plurality of second sensors attached to the second strip surface of the second strip portion of the carrier strip and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip, the plurality of second sensors configured to sense a condition at the second portion of the top surface of the mattress; and
wherein the carrier strip is configured to be releasably fastened to the top surface of the mattress and to extend between the opposite lateral ends of the top surface of the mattress.

17. The sensor strip of claim 16 , wherein each of the first strip surfaces are configured to be releasably attached to the respective first portion and the second portion of the top surface of the mattress.

18. The sensor strip of claim 16 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of first sensors are spaced five inches apart from each other on the first strip portion of the carrier strip and each sensor of the plurality of second sensors are spaced five inches apart from each other on the second strip portion of the carrier strip.

19. A mattress system comprising:
a top layer positioned at a mattress top and having a top surface, a head end, a foot end, and opposite lateral ends; and
a sensor strip comprising:
a carrier strip releasably fastened to the top surface and only extending between the opposite lateral ends of the top layer, the carrier strip comprising a first strip surface oriented to face the top layer and a second strip surface opposite the first strip surface oriented to face away from the top layer; and
a plurality of sensors attached to the first strip surface of the carrier strip and spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the carrier strip between the opposite lateral ends of the top layer.

Assignees

• Sleep Number Corp

Inventors

• Karschnik Kody Lee
• Pedersen Dillon
• Rose Eric
• Palashewski Wade Daniel
• Verbockel Daniel

Classifications

• A47C27/18

  in combination with inflatable bodies · CPC title

• A47C27/10

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• A47C27/083 Primary

  with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors · CPC title

• A47C27/002

  Mattress or cushion tickings or covers · CPC title

• A47C21/04

  Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating · CPC title