Bed system and retainer system therefor

Abstract

A retainer system is configured to retain a mattress to an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations. The retainer system includes a strap and an elongated stiffener. The strap is configured to extend through a sleeve on an underside of the mattress and having first and second ends that are releasably coupled to the adjustment mechanism proximate each left and right sides thereof. The elongated stiffener is coupled to the strap and configured to, when pushed through the sleeve, insert the strap through the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retainer system configured to retain a mattress to an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations, the retainer system including:
 a strap configured to extend through a sleeve on an underside of the mattress and having first and second ends that are releasably coupled to the adjustment mechanism proximate each left and right sides thereof; and   an elongated stiffener coupled to the strap and configured to, when pushed through the sleeve, insert the strap through the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The retainer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic component that is configured to be attracted by one or more magnets at a corresponding location of the adjustment mechanism;
 wherein the elongated stiffener has a substantially constant width over a majority of a length thereof, and the strap has a width that is less than the substantially constant width of the elongated stiffener;   wherein over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener, the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener when the retainer system is positioned in the sleeve; and   wherein the elongated stiffener includes a plurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternating manner.   
     
     
         3 . The retainer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated stiffener has a substantially constant width over a majority of a length thereof, and the strap has a width that is less than the substantially constant width of the elongated stiffener. 
     
     
         4 . The retainer system according to  claim 1 , wherein over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener, the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener when the retainer system is positioned in the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The retainer system according to  claim 4 , wherein the elongated stiffener includes a plurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternating manner. 
     
     
         6 . The retainer system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the strap includes a clip that is configured to releasably couple to a corresponding coupling feature of the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The retainer system according to  claim 6 , wherein a second end of the strap is a configured to be inserted into a buckle to be retained thereby. 
     
     
         8 . The retainer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic component that is configured to be attracted by one or more magnets at a corresponding location of the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The retainer system according to  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic component is a metal plate attached to the elongated stiffener. 
     
     
         10 . The retainer system according to  claim 9 , wherein the metal plate is centered on the elongated stiffener along the width thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The retainer system according to  claim 9 , wherein the strap extends between the elongated stiffener and the magnetic component. 
     
     
         12 . A bed system comprising:
 a mattress having a sleeve on an underside thereof;   an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations; and   a retainer system that extends through the sleeve and is coupled to the adjustment mechanism on each side of the sleeve to mechanically the mattress to the adjustment mechanism, the retainer system including:
 a strap; and 
 an elongated stiffener coupled to the strap; 
 wherein one or more of:
 the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener; 
 the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener; 
 the elongated stiffener includes a plurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternating manner; or 
 the retainer system is magnetically coupled to the adjustment mechanism. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The bed system according to  claim 12 , wherein the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener;
 wherein the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener;   wherein the elongated stiffener includes a plurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternating manner; and   wherein the retainer system is magnetically coupled to the adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The bed system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve extends a majority of the width of the mattress, the retainer system further includes a magnetic component, the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet that is magnetically coupled to the magnetic component of the retainer system, and the support defines a recess in which the magnet is at least partially positioned. 
     
     
         15 . The bed system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve extends a majority of the width of the mattress. 
     
     
         16 . The bed system according to any of  claim 12 , wherein the retainer system further includes a magnetic component; and
 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet that is magnetically coupled to the magnetic component of the retainer system.   
     
     
         17 . The bed system according to  claim 16 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet assembly and a receptacle by which the magnet assembly is coupled to the adjustment mechanism;
 wherein the magnet assembly includes an upper flange to which the magnet is coupled and a lower rod extending downward from the upper flange and terminating at an expanded head; and   wherein the receptacle is coupled to the support and includes resilient flaps that define a bore through which the lower rod is inserted, such that the resilient flaps engage the expanded head of the lower rod to retain the magnet assembly to the receptacle.   
     
     
         18 . The bed system according to any of  claim 16 , wherein the support defines a recess, and the magnet is positioned at least partially in the recess. 
     
     
         19 . A method for retaining a mattress to an adjustable mechanism that moves the mattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations, the method comprising:
 providing a mattress having an underside with a sleeve extending across a majority of a width thereof;   providing a retainer system having a strap and an elongated stiffener;   providing an adjustment mechanism;   inserting the retainer system in the sleeve by pushing the elongated stiffener through the sleeve and, thereby, pull the strap through the sleeve;   positioning the mattress on the adjustment mechanism; and   after inserting the retainer system in the sleeve, coupling first and second ends of the strap to left and right sides of the adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the retainer system includes a magnetic component attached to the elongated stiffener, and the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet, the method further comprising:
 positioning the mattress on the adjustment mechanism for the magnetic component of the of the retaining assembly to magnetically couple to the magnet of the adjustment mechanism; and   performing the coupling of the first and second ends of the strap to the left and right sides of the adjustment mechanism while the magnetic component of the retaining assembly is coupled to the magnet of the adjustment mechanism.