US 6,008,598 · Granted 1999-12-28
The Remote Control That Made Your Bed Actually Smart
Imagine a wireless remote for your bed that doesn't just raise and lower it — it shows you what's happening on a little screen. This patent covers a hand-held controller that lets you adjust your mattress or bed frame with buttons while a display tells you exactly what's going on, all at a glance.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The patent covers a hand-held remote control device designed specifically for bed and mattress assemblies. What's protected here is the combination of a pushbutton interface paired with a display screen that simultaneously shows both graphical images and numerical data when you press the button. The claim extends to the overall design of controlling at least one function of a bed through this wireless hand-held unit.
Why it matters
This patent arrived in 1998-1999, right as adjustable beds were becoming more common in homes and medical settings. By combining simple button control with real-time visual feedback on the remote itself, it made these complex mechanical beds much more user-friendly. Instead of fumbling with unclear controls or wires, people could see exactly what their bed was doing — height, angle, firmness — all from one compact device.
Real-world use
When you grab the remote on a sleep number or adjustable bed and press a button while watching the firmness percentage or height display change on the screen, you're using the exact interface this patent describes.
Original USPTO abstract
A hand-held controller is provided for controlling at least one function of a bed and mattress assembly. The hand-held controller includes a button engageable to control the at least one function of the bed and mattress assembly, and a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function. The display simultaneously displays a graphical image and numerical data when the button is engaged.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,008,598
- Filing date
- 1998-04-22
- Grant date
- 1999-12-28
- Assignee
- Patmark Company, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- LUFF; LAWRENCE E., REEDER; RYAN A.
- CPC class
- A47C20/048
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