Cassette bedding system

Abstract

A bedding system that provides ease of handling and transport and reduces storage space, and includes a foundation in the form of a shell comprising a top panel and a side panel, a mattress having a transport size to fit inside the shell so that the foundation and mattress can be transported as a single unit having the outside dimensions of the foundation. When in set up as a bed, the mattress is placed on the top panel of the foundation. A bracing system is provided that attaches to the sidewalls of the foundation to provide a foundation sufficiently strong to support a mattress and one or more users.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A bedding system comprising: 
 a plastic foundation having a top panel and four sidewalls defining an interior compartment,    a mattress having useful size larger than the interior compartment and a transport size dimensionally adapted to fit inside the plastic foundation so that the foundation and mattress are transported as a single unit having the outside dimensions of the foundation, and the mattress is placed on the top panel of the foundation when set up as a bed.    
     
     
         2 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second brace having attachment mechanisms disposed at either end of the brace for mechanically attaching to a sidewall of the foundation.  
     
     
         3 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein size of the mattress is reduced from the useful size to the transport size by compression.  
     
     
         4 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress is compressed by placing the mattress inside an enclosure made of a barrier material that is impervious to air and applying a vacuum pressure to the inside of the enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises a bottom panel, with said bottom panel, top panel and side panel defining an enclosed foundation space.  
     
     
         6 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the side panel is detachable from the top panel.  
     
     
         7 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the side panel is detachable from the bottom panel.  
     
     
         8 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , and further comprising casters attached to the foundation.  
     
     
         9 . The bedding system of  claim 8 , wherein the casters are attached at a location of the side panel that faces away from the top panel.  
     
     
         10 . The bedding system of  claim 8 , wherein the casters are attached on a side of the side panel to facilitate transport of the bedding system in an upright orientation.  
     
     
         11 . The bedding system of  claim 8 , wherein the casters are removable.  
     
     
         12 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the foundation comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, composite material and metal.  
     
     
         13 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel is perforated.  
     
     
         14 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , and further comprising openings disposed in the side panel or top panel for handling the bedding system.  
     
     
         15 . The bedding system of  claim 5 , and further comprising closeable openings disposed in the side panel and providing access to the enclosed foundation space.  
     
     
         16 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a support brace secured to an interior surface of the side panel for supporting the top panel.  
     
     
         17 . The bedding system of  claim 5 , and further comprising a support post disposed between the top panel and the bottom panel for maintaining a spacing between the top panel and the bottom panel.  
     
     
         18 . The bedding system of  claim 16 , and further comprising casters attached to the support brace at a location opposite the top panel.  
     
     
         19 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress is made of a foam material.  
     
     
         20 . The bedding system of  claim 19 , wherein the foam mattress has sections of different firmness.  
     
     
         21 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress has an open coil or Marshall coil construction.  
     
     
         22 . The bedding system of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one of a support post and a support brace, wherein the at least one support post and support brace are stored inside the shell for transport of the bedding system.  
     
     
         23 . Method for packaging a bedding system, comprising 
 providing a foundation in the form of a shell comprising at least a top panel and a side panel, and    placing a mattress having exterior dimensions to fit inside the shell, wherein the foundation and mattress is transported as a single unit having the outside dimensions of the foundation, and    wherein the mattress is placed on the top panel of the foundation when in use.    
     
     
         24 . Method for transporting a bedding system, comprising 
 providing a foundation in the form of a shell comprising at least a top panel and a side panel,    placing a mattress having exterior dimensions to fit inside the shell, wherein the foundation and mattress is transported as a single unit having the outside dimensions of the foundation, and    securing casters to the foundation to allow transport of the bedding system.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the casters are oriented so as to face away from the top panel.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the casters are oriented perpendicular to a side of the side panel.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further including placing a first bedding system in a substantially horizontal orientation, said first bedding system functioning as a pallet, and placing additional bedding systems in a substantially vertical orientation on top of the first bedding system, thereby forming a block of bedding systems adapted for palletted transport.