Bed With Magnetic Couplers

Abstract

A magnetic coupler for attaching a mattress to a bed foundation includes a magnet assembly, a target assembly, and a shunt. The magnet assembly includes a housing and a magnet, wherein the housing is configured to couple the magnet to the mattress. The target assembly is configured to couple a target to the foundation. The shunt is disposed within the housing of the magnet assembly or in the mattress. The magnet assembly and the target assembly are releasably attached when the magnet is magnetically coupled to the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic coupler for attaching a mattress to a bed foundation, the magnetic coupler comprising:
 a magnet assembly comprising a housing and a magnet, wherein the housing is configured to couple the magnet to a mattress; and   a target assembly configured to couple a target to a foundation; and   a shunt disposed within the housing of the magnet assembly or in the mattress;   wherein the magnet assembly and the target assembly are releasably attached when the magnet is magnetically coupled to the target.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 2 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises neodymium iron boron (NdFeB), samarium cobalt (SmCo), alnico, ceramic magnets, or ferrite magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the target, the shunt, or both, comprise iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, or alloys or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt is configured to shield at least a portion of the magnetic field radiating towards the mattress. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly and the target assembly are released from one another when the tensile force applied to either the magnet assembly or the target assembly is greater than a predetermined threshold force value that ranges from about 50 lbf. to about 150 lbf. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a top housing and a bottom housing, wherein the top housing and bottom housing are configured to mate together to form a shell defining an internal cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet assembly further comprises a clamping disc shaped to mate with the top housing and configured for gripping a portion of the mattress when mated with the top housing. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping disc has a top surface defined by a plurality of teeth and wherein the teeth of the clamping disc engage with the mating teeth of the top housing to grip a fabric material of the mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 10 , wherein the clamping disc is disposed within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 10 , wherein the shunt is disposed within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises a received portion and the target assembly comprises a receiving portion, the received portion configured to engage with the receiving portion when the magnet assembly is magnetically coupled to the target assembly, and wherein the received portion has a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of the receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic coupler of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of a diameter of the receiving portion to a diameter of a received portion is between 1.5:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
         14 . A bed system comprising:
 a foundation;   a mattress positioned on the foundation;   one or more magnetic couplers, each magnetic coupler comprising:
 a magnet assembly comprising a housing and a magnet, wherein the housing is configured to couple the magnet to the mattress; 
 a target assembly configured to couple a target to the foundation; and 
 a shunt disposed within the housing of the magnet assembly or in the mattress; 
 wherein the magnet assembly and the target assembly are releasably attached when the magnet is magnetically coupled to the target. 
   
     
     
         15 . The bed system of  claim 14 , wherein the bed system is an air bed system, wherein the mattress comprises an inflatable air chamber, wherein the foundation comprises an adjustable foundation configured for raising both the head and feet of the mattress when the adjustable foundation is actuated, and wherein the one or more magnetic couplers retains the mattress on the adjustable foundation during articulation of the adjustable foundation. 
     
     
         16 . The bed system of  claim 14 , wherein the foundation is an articulable foundation. 
     
     
         17 . The bed system of  claim 14 , wherein the mattress comprises a fabric layer and a support structure positioned inside of and fully encapsulated by the fabric layer, and wherein the magnet assembly is coupled to the fabric layer. 
     
     
         18 . The bed system of  claim 14 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises means for engaging with the target assembly. 
     
     
         19 . Abed system comprising:
 an adjustable foundation;   a mattress positioned on the foundation; and   a plurality of means for releasably coupling the mattress to the foundation so as to hold the mattress in place on the foundation when the foundation is raised and lowered.   
     
     
         20 . The bed system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of means for releasably coupling the mattress comprises one or more magnetic couplers, each magnetic coupler comprising:
 (a) a magnet assembly comprising a top housing, a bottom housing, and a housing fastener for coupling the top and bottom housing together, the top housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and sloped top lateral walls, the bottom surface being defined by the sloped lateral walls, a plurality of teeth, and a central flange, the bottom housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sloped bottom lateral walls, the bottom surface includes an outwardly projecting bead forming a flange that extends interior walls defining a central hole of the bottom housing, wherein the central hole of the bottom housing is configured to receive a magnet; and   (b) a target assembly comprising an annular cup, a target, and one or more mechanical fasteners for coupling the target to the annular cup.