Texture masking of a patterned gel layer of a mattress
A mattress cover masks, buffers, or dampens the feel of the texture of the upper surface of a patterned gel layer of an upper cushioning element of a mattress. The mattress cover includes an outer surface, a mask layer, an outer periphery, and an optional bottom. A configuration of the mask layer enables it to mask, buffer, or dampen the feel of the texture of the upper surface of the patterned gel layer without interfering with a compressibility of the upper cushioning element. The mask layer may include a patterned gel layer with a different pattern than that of the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element of the mattress. Methods of manufacturing and installing mattress covers that mask, buffer, or dampen the feel of a patterned gel layer of an upper cushioning element of a mattress are also disclosed.
1 . A mattress, comprising:
an internal mattress assembly including:
an upper cushioning element comprising a plurality of interconnected walls defined from an elastomeric gel and defining an array of cells, the interconnected walls and the array of cells defining a patterned gel layer; and
a mattress cover including:
a top panel over an upper surface of the upper cushioning element comprising:
an outer surface formed from a fabric;
a mask layer secured in place beneath the outer surface and comprising an elastomeric gel material defining a plurality of walls defining a patterned gel layer that is different than the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element and that masks a texture of an upper surface of the patterned gel layer; and
a lower surface formed from the fabric; and
a periphery extending downwardly from edges of the top panel and laterally surrounding a periphery of the upper cushioning element and a periphery of a remainder of the internal mattress assembly,
wherein the mattress cover is removably coupled with the upper cushioning element such that the top panel of the mattress cover removably couples with the upper surface of the upper cushioning element and the periphery of the mattress cover removably couples with the periphery of the upper cushioning element.
2 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface is positioned beneath the mask layer.
3 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein a stretchability of the top panel of the mattress cover enables the mask layer of the top panel to mask the texture of the upper cushioning element without interfering with a compressibility of the upper cushioning element.
4 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover has a thickness of approximately one quarter inch to approximately one inch.
5 . The mattress of claim 4 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover has a thickness of approximately one half inch.
6 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls of the mask layer are compressible and resilient.
7 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls of the mask layer are a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells, wherein the cells of the array of cells have shapes and/or dimensions that differ from shapes and/or dimensions of cells of the array of cells of the upper cushioning element of the mattress assembly.
8 . The mattress of claim 7 , wherein a maximum dimension across a center of a cell of the array of cells of the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover is smaller than a maximum dimension across a center of a cell of the array of cells of the upper cushioning element of the mattress.
9 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover comprises a stretchable batting.
10 . The mattress of claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises the elastomeric gel material defining the plurality of walls formed on a side of the outer surface.
11 . A mattress cover, comprising:
a top panel positionable over an upper surface of an internal mattress that includes an upper cushioning element comprising an elastomeric gel defining a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells, the interconnected walls and the array of cells defining a patterned gel layer, the top panel comprising:
an outer surface formed from a fabric;
a mask layer secured in place beneath the outer surface and comprising an elastomeric gel material defining a plurality of walls defining a patterned gel layer that is different than the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element and that masks a texture of an upper surface of the patterned gel layer; and
a lower surface formed from the fabric; and
a periphery extending downwardly from edges of the top panel and laterally surrounding a periphery of the internal mattress assembly,
wherein the top panel removably couples with the upper surface of the upper cushioning element and the periphery of the mattress cover removably couples with the periphery of the upper cushioning element.
12 . The mattress cover of claim 11 , wherein the lower surface is positioned beneath the mask layer.
13 . The mattress cover of claim 11 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover has a thickness of approximately one quarter inch to approximately one inch.
14 . The mattress cover of claim 13 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover has a thickness of approximately one half inch.
15 . The mattress cover of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of walls of the mask layer are compressible and resilient.
16 . The mattress cover of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of walls of the mask layer are a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells.
17 . The mattress cover of claim 11 , wherein the mask layer of the top panel of the mattress cover comprises a stretchable batting.
18 . A method for masking a texture of an upper surface of an internal mattress that includes an upper cushioning element comprising an elastomeric gel defining a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells, the interconnected walls and the array of cells defining a patterned gel layer, the method comprising:
placing a mattress cover over the internal mattress, including:
positioning a top panel of the mattress cover over an upper surface of the patterned gel layer, including orienting an outer fabric layer of the top panel outwardly away from the upper surface and orienting a lower fabric layer of the top panel toward the upper surface such that a mask layer of the top panel, comprising an elastomeric gel material defining a plurality of walls defining a patterned gel layer that is different than the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element, is disposed between the outer fabric layer and the upper surface of the patterned gel layer; and
positioning a periphery of the mattress cover around a periphery of the internal mattress assembly,
wherein the mattress cover is removably placed over the internal mattress such that the top panel of the mattress cover removably couples with the upper surface of the upper cushioning element and the periphery of the mattress cover removably couples with the periphery of the upper cushioning element.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning the top panel of the mattress cover comprises positioning a top panel with a stretchability that enables the mask layer of the top panel to mask the texture of the upper cushioning element without interfering with a compressibility of the upper cushioning element.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein positioning the top panel of the mattress cover comprises positioning a top panel with a mask layer comprising the plurality of walls defining an array of cells over the upper surface of the patterned gel layer.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning the top panel of the mattress cover comprises placing the top panel of the mattress cover directly against the upper surface of the patterned gel layer.