Adjustable firmness mattress

Abstract

A mattress system. The mattress system including a foam mattress having a plurality of stacked layers, wherein each of the stacked layers has a top surface and a bottom surface thereby defining a plurality of interstitial pockets and one or more rigid plates configured to be inserted into the one or more plurality of interstitial pockets, thereby enabling the mattress system be selectively optimized to provide a desired structural support and firmness for a user's body type and weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress system configured to be selectively optimized to provide a desired structural support and firmness for a user's body type and weight, comprising:
 a foam mattress having a plurality of stacked layers, wherein each of the stacked layers has a top surface and a bottom surface, thereby defining a plurality of interstitial pockets between the individual stacked layers; and   one or more rigid plates configured to be inserted into one or more of the plurality of interstitial pockets.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates are constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates are constructed of wood. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates are constructed of hard foam rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates has a length of between 65 and 75 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates has a length of between 12 and 36 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates has a length of between 6 and 12 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates has a width of between 30 and 39 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates includes a handle. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rigid plates includes a hinge section. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress system of  claim 10 , wherein the intersection is a living hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stacked layers are fused together at one of the bead end of the mattress, the foot end of the mattress, the centerline of the mattress, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress system of  claim 1 , wherein a first rigid plate is inserted into a first interstitial pocket, thereby establishing the first portion of the mattress system having a first firmness, and a second rigid plate is inserted into a second interstitial pocket, thereby establishing a second portion of the mattress system having a second firmness. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress system of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first rigid plate and the second rigid plate overlap, thereby establishing a third portion of the mattress having a third firmness. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress system of  claim 13 , further including a third rigid plate inserted into the first interstitial pocket, thereby establishing a third portion of the mattress system with a firmness substantially equal to the first firmness. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress system of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the first rigid plate overlaps a portion of the second rigid plate, thereby establishing a fourth portion of the mattress having a fourth firmness, and a portion of the second rigid plate overlaps a portion of the third rigid plate, thereby establishing a fifth portion of the mattress having a fifth firmness. 
     
     
         17 . A mattress system configured to be selectively optimized to provide a desired structural support and firmness for a user's body type and weight, comprising;
 a foam mattress having plurality of stacked layers, wherein each of the stacked layers has a top surface and a bottom surface, thereby defining a plurality of interstitial pockets between the individual stacked layers; and   a rigid plate configured to be inserted into one of the plurality of interstitial pockets, wherein the rigid plate includes at least one hinge section configured to enable the rigid plate to bend.   
     
     
         18 . The mattress system of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge section enables the rigid plate to fold over itself, thereby doubling its thickness over a first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress system of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge section enables the rigid plate to fold over itself twice, thereby tripling its thickness over a first portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method of optimizing the firmness of a mattress system to provide a desired structural support for a user's body type and weight, comprising:
 positioning one or more rigid plates into one or more of a plurality of interstitial pockets within a foam mattress, wherein the interstitial pockets are defined between a plurality of stacked layers, wherein each of the stacked layers has a top surface and a bottom surface.