Modular mattress systems

Abstract

Modular mattress systems include mattress modules configured such that a plurality of mattress modules are configured to form a first modular mattress of a first selected geometry and are reconfigurable to form a second modular mattress of a second selected geometry.

1 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a plurality of substantially identically shaped mattress modules configured to selectively form a first mattress module assembly having a first selected geometry and being reconfigurable to selectively form a second mattress module assembly having a second selected geometry; and   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         2 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mattress modules each have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         3 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the mattress modules have different stiffnesses, such that a user can orient stiffer or more flexible modules at desired locations within the mattress. 
     
     
         4 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first plurality of mattress modules have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to two times the width (x). 
     
     
         5 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein a second plurality of mattress modules have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         6 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first plurality of mattress modules has a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to four times the width (x). 
     
     
         7 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein a second plurality of mattress modules have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         8 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the mattress modules has a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to four times the width (x). 
     
     
         9 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of first mattress module assembly and the second mattress module assembly are formed using mattress modules having substantially identical shapes and geometries. 
     
     
         10 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the modules substantially has the shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         11 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress comprises a casing configured to contain the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress. 
     
     
         12 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising one or more extenders within the mattress casing for increasing the size of the mattress formed using the casing. 
     
     
         13 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress comprise a first casing having a first size, corresponding to a first mattress, and a second casing having a second size, corresponding to a second mattress. 
     
     
         14 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more supplementary mattress modules configured to be combined with said plurality of substantially identically shaped mattress modules, each of the supplementary mattress modules having a different shape from said substantially identically shaped mattress modules. 
     
     
         15 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more supplementary mattress modules comprises a plurality of substantially identically shaped supplemental mattress modules. 
     
     
         16 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the one or more substantially identically shaped mattress modules each have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to four times the width (x). 
     
     
         17 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a plurality of substantially identically shaped mattress modules configured to selectively form a first mattress module assembly having a first selected geometry and being reconfigurable to selectively form a second mattress module assembly having a second selected geometry, each of the mattress modules having a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is: (1) substantially equal to two times the width (x); or (2) substantially equal to four times the width (x); and   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         18 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising additional substantially identically shaped mattress modules having a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         19 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein each of the modules substantially has the shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The modular mattress system as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising one or more additional mattress modules each having a length (y′) that is substantially equal to a width x thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a first mattress comprise a first casing having a first size, corresponding to a first mattress, and a second casing having a second size, corresponding to a second mattress, and a third casing having a third size, corresponding to a third mattress. 
     
     
         26 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a plurality of mattress modules configured to form a first modular mattress of a first selected geometry and being reconfigurable to form a second modular mattress of a second selected geometry, each of the mattress modules having a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to four times the width (x); and   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein a second plurality of mattress modules have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a plurality of mattress modules configured to form a first modular mattress of a first selected geometry and being reconfigurable to form a second modular mattress of a second selected geometry, each of the mattress modules having a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to two times the width (x); and   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein a second plurality of mattress modules have a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to the width (x). 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a first plurality of mattress modules and a second plurality of mattress modules, the first and second pluralities of mattress modules configured to form a first mattress module assembly of a first selected geometry and being reconfigurable to form a second mattress module assembly of a second selected geometry, each of the mattress modules of the first plurality of mattress modules and the second plurality of mattress modules having a width (x) and a length (y),
 wherein a stiffness of the second plurality of mattress modules has a different stiffness than the first plurality of mattress modules; and 
 wherein the second plurality of mattress modules are configured to be placed around a periphery of the first mattress module assembly; and 
   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure the plurality of mattress modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         36 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to two times the width (x). 
     
     
         37 . A modular mattress system, comprising:
 a first mattress module;   a second mattress module; and   a third mattress module,
 wherein the first, second, and third mattress modules are configured such that a user can use: (A) the first mattress module to form a first mattress module assembly of a first selected geometry; (B) the first and second mattress modules to form a second mattress module assembly of a second selected geometry; (C) the first and third mattress modules to form a third mattress module assembly of a third selected geometry; or (D) the first, second, and third mattress modules to form a fourth mattress module assembly of a fourth selected geometry; and 
   one or more couplers configured to selectively secure selected modules to form a mattress.   
     
     
         38 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the first, second, and third mattress modules each have the same length. 
     
     
         39 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the first, second, and third mattress modules each have the same length and wherein the width of the second mattress module is less than the width of the first mattress modules and less than the width of the third mattress module. 
     
     
         40 . A modular mattress system as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the first mattress module has a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to two times the width (x); and
 wherein the second mattress module has a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to five and a quarter times the width (x); and   wherein the third mattress module has a width (x) and a length (y), wherein the length (y) is substantially equal to three and a half times the width (x).   
     
     
         41 .- 64 . (canceled)