Boyd Gets 2 New Patents

August 16, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on August 17, 2011

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued Boyd Specialty Sleep two new patents for its Sleep Metrics in-store mattress and pillow selection system.

The new patents bring to more than 30 the total number of patented products, components, processes or systems the Boyd Specialty Sleep has developed since its founding in 1977.      

The newly issued Patent numbers 7,937,238 and 7,937,239, along with an earlier 2008 patent, enable retailers to help their customers select not only the right mattress but also the right complementary components like sleeping pillows, mattress protectors or massagers.

According to president Denny Boyd, president of St. Louis-based Boyd Specialty Sleep, the "238" patent is directed primarily to pillow selection alone, with mattress criteria either inputted or measured. The new "239" patent relates to mattress selection with pillow criteria. The 2008 Boyd patent (U.S. No. 7,467,058) dealt with mattress selection without requiring pillow criteria. 

"Taken together, these patents enable shoppers to quickly and easily find a pillow and/or matching mattress, as well as other bedding products that best fit their sleep characteristics and individual preferences," Boyd said. "The technology also assists retailers in improving their service to customers, increasing the number and quality of their transactions, and reducing or eliminating comfort returns."
         
The Sleep Metrics process interfaces a diagnostic air mattress with a touch-screen kiosk and computer system to gather specific information on a customer's body type, sleep style and special needs. The Sleep Metrics software processes the customer's responses--including any information from the diagnostic mattress--and generates a list of recommended,  complementary products that best meet the shopper's needs.