Mattress with different firmness zones

Abstract

A mattress has a perimeter rail having a head end, a foot end, and two sides, each having an inner surface, and at least two substantially parallel rectilinear sections. Each section comprises an array of springs whose tension is selected to provide a predetermined firmness for that section. Each adjacent pair of sections is urged into a spaced-apart relationship by a spacing means, where each spacing means comprises a flexible spacer. The flexible spacer restricts or substantially eliminates the translation of movements between the sections of the mattress, while avoiding the use of uncomfortable separation means.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress comprising:
 a perimeter rail defining a perimeter of the mattress;   a plurality of spring arrays arranged within the perimeter rail, each of the plurality of spring arrays comprising a plurality of rows of individual springs each having an associated height; and   a flexible spacer separating at least two of the plurality of spring arrays and connected to the at least two of the plurality of spring arrays along at least a portion of a length of the flexible spacer.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the associated height of one or more of the rows of springs in each of the spring arrays is greater than a height of the perimeter rail. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible spacer and the perimeter rail have the same height. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible spacer and the perimeter rail have a different height. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein springs adjacent the flexible spacer are connected along the length of the flexible spacer. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flexible spacers located between three or more spring arrays. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the spring arrays comprise springs of a plurality of different tensions. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper resilient layer on a top of the plurality of spring arrays, and a lower resilient layer on a bottom of the plurality of spring arrays. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the upper resilient layer and the lower resilient layer are made of foam. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the upper resilient layer and the lower resilient layer are made of dense fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible spacer is retained along at least a portion of the upper resilient layer and the lower resilient layer. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the flexible spacer is less than a width of the perimeter rail. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the flexible spacer is selected to restrict translation of movement between adjacent spring arrays.