Mattress with different firmness zones

Abstract

A mattress has a perimeter rail having a head end, a foot end, and two sides, each having an inner surface, and at least two substantially parallel rectilinear sections. Each section comprises an array of springs whose tension is selected to provide a predetermined firmness for that section. Each adjacent pair of sections is urged into a spaced-apart relationship by a spacing means, where each spacing means comprises a flexible spacer. The flexible spacer restricts or substantially eliminates the translation of movements between the sections of the mattress, while avoiding the use of uncomfortable separation means.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress comprising:
 a perimeter rail comprising a pair of side rails each having a respective width;   a first support section located within the perimeter rail;   a second support section located within the perimeter rail;   a flexible spacer positioned within the perimeter rail between the first support section and the second support section, the flexible spacer having a width less than a width of at least one side rail of the pair of side rails.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter rail further comprises a head end and a foot end. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible spacer is arranged approximately parallel to the pair of side rails and is attached to the head end and foot end of the perimeter rail. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the width of the flexible spacer is significantly less than the width of at least one side rail of the pair of side rails. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein a height of at least one of the first support section and second support section is greater than the height of the flexible spacer. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 5  wherein a height of at least one of the first support section and second support section is greater than the height of the flexible spacer. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 6  wherein the height of at least one of the first support section and second support section is greater than the height of the perimeter rail. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein the height of both the first support section and second support section and the perimeter rail are approximately the same. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising a first top resilient layer made of foam. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 9 , further comprising a second top resilient layer made from dense fibers arranged on top of the first top resilient layer. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 10 , further comprising a bottom resilient layer made from foam. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible spacer is retained along its length by the first top resilient layer and the bottom resilient layer. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible spacer restricts translation of movement between the first support section and the second support section. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter rail and the flexible spacer are made from a resilient material. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 14 , wherein the resilient material of the flexible spacer is foam.