Adjustable foam mattress

Abstract

Various systems and methods for adjusting the firmness of a mattress are described herein. Inflation elements having fingers may be coupled with a spring layer or foam layer of a mattress to provide for inflating or deflating the fingers. Increasing the fluid pressure inside the fingers increases the force required to compress the spring layer or foam layer, ultimately resulting in increasing the firmness of the mattress. Conversely, decreasing the fluid pressure inside the fingers decreases the firmness of the mattress.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable mattress system comprising:
 (a) a mattress comprising:
 (i) a foam layer, wherein the foam layer defines a finger opening; and 
 (ii) a firmness, wherein the firmness is adjustable; 
   (b) a finger disposed in the finger opening, wherein the finger includes a pressure, wherein the pressure is adjustable; and   wherein the firmness of the mattress is based at least in part with the pressure of the finger.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflation element, wherein the inflation element includes a base tube, wherein the finger extends from the base tube. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 2 , further comprising a first axis and a second axis, wherein the base tube is coaxial with the first axis, wherein the finger is coaxial with the second axis, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the inflation element is disposed outside of the foam layer, wherein a second portion of the inflation element is disposed inside of the foam layer. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 4 , wherein the inflation element comprises a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is disposed in the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cable coil disposed inside the inflation element. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the pressure. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable mattress system comprising:
 (a) a mattress comprising:
 (i) a foam layer, wherein the foam layer defines a group of finger openings, and 
 (ii) a compression space, wherein the compression space is disposed between the group of finger openings, wherein the compression space is compressible by a force, 
   (b) an adjustment system comprising:   (i) a group of fingers, wherein each finger is disposed in a corresponding finger opening, wherein each finger includes a pressure, wherein the pressure is adjustable, wherein the force is based at least in part on the pressure, wherein the adjustment system is configured to adjust the pressure in response to receiving an adjustment command; and   (c) an interface system, wherein the interface system is configured to transmit the adjustment command to the adjustment system.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment system further comprises a pump, wherein the pump is in fluid communication with each finger, wherein the pump is configured to increase the pressure each finger in response to the adjustment system receiving the adjustment command. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 8 , wherein the mattress comprises an inflation element, wherein the inflation element includes a base tube, wherein at least one of the fingers extend from the base tube. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 10 , wherein the mattress comprises a first axis and a second axis, wherein the base tube is coaxial with the first axis, wherein at least one of the fingers is coaxial with the second axis, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the inflation element is disposed outside of the foam layer, wherein a second portion of the inflation element is disposed in the foam layer. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 12 , wherein the inflation element comprises a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is disposed in the first portion. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable mattress system of  claim 10 , further comprising a cable coil disposed inside the inflation element. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 (a) receiving a first command signal by an adjustment system, wherein the adjustment system is associated with a foam mattress having an adjustable firmness, wherein the first command signal is associated with increasing the firmness;   (b) in response to receiving the first command signal, increasing a pressure within a finger disposed in the foam mattress, wherein the finger is disposed proximate a compression space; and   (c) in response to increasing the pressure within the finger, increasing a force required to compress the compression space and thereby increase the firmness of the spring mattress.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (a) actuating an interface system; and   (b) in response to actuating the interface system, sending the first command signal to the adjustment system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (a) receiving a second command signal by the adjustment system, wherein the second command signal is associated with decreasing the firmness;   (b) in response to receiving the second command signal, decreasing the pressure within the finger; and   (c) in response to decreasing the pressure within the finger, decreasing the force required to compress the group of springs and thereby decrease the firmness of the spring mattress.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the finger is in fluid communication with a base tube. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising pumping fluid into the base tube to increase the pressure in the finger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising disposing a cable coil in the base tube.