WO2013119250A1

WO2013119250A1 - Mattress having reduced motion transfer

Info

Publication number: WO2013119250A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/024669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kelly W. Chandler
Original assignee: Tempur-Pedic Management, Inc.
Priority date: 2012-02-10
Filing date: 2012-02-10
Publication date: 2013-08-15
Also published as: US20130205510A1

Abstract

A mattress according to some embodiments includes a viscoelastic foam divider that extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress and that is made of a viscoelastic foam, whereas in these and other embodiments, the mattress has a layer of viscoelastic foam bridging a gap that extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress. The mattress can also include a first body support portion having high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a first side of the divider or gap, and a second body support portion having high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a second side of the divider or gap for isolating the second body support portion from the first body support portion.

Description

MATTRESS HAVING REDUCED MOTION TRANSFER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Mattresses constructed entirely or partially of foam material are becoming more commonplace in the market. Polyurethane foam, for example, is commonly used in such mattresses and can be used alone or in combination with other types of cushion materials. Viscoelastic foam is used in some mattresses, allowing the mattress to more closely conform to a user's body and more efficiently distribute the weight of the user over the mattress. Such characteristics of mattresses including viscoelastic foam are particularly desirable, and distinguish viscoelastic foam mattresses from traditional spring-based mattresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is generally directed to a mattress having a motion transfer reduction feature that is particularly well-suited for mattresses that are not entirely made of viscoelastic material or other materials known to have motion transfer reducing properties. In one embodiment, the motion transfer feature includes an air wall that extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress. The air wall or cavity effectively divides the mattress into first and second body support portions. Mechanically separating the mattress into separate body support positions dampens the transfer of motion between the body support positions, such as when a person enters or exits the mattress. In one alternate embodiment, the air wall includes viscoelastic material, such as a single block of viscoelastic foam or multiple blocks in a spaced arranged along the longitudinal axis of the cavity between the body support portions.

[0003] Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a mattress includes a divider, comprised of viscoelastic foam, extending along a longitudinal axis thereof. The mattress further includes a first body support portion including high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a first side of the divider and a second body support portion including high-resilience foam positioned adjacent a second side of the divider opposite the first side of the divider for isolating the second body support portion from the first body support portion.

[0004] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mattress is provided having a first body support portion extending longitudinally from a head of the mattress to a foot of the mattress and a second body support portion extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress. A gap is defined between the first and second body support portions and extends longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress. A layer of viscoelastic foam covers and is attached to the first and second body support portions, and bridges the gap between the first and second body support portions.

[0005] According to a further aspect of the invention, a mattress includes a first body support portion extending longitudinally from a head of the mattress to a foot of the mattress and a second body support portion extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress. A gap is defined between the first and second body support portions and extends longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress.

Viscoelastic material is disposed in the gap and resists motion transfer between the first body support and the second body support portions.

[0006] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mattress taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

[0009] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0010] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mattress taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

[0011] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0012] Fig. 6 is a section view of the mattress taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

[0013] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Before various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like "front", "back", "up", "down", "top", "bottom", and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as "first", "second", and "third" are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. Also, use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms "connected," "coupled," and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections and couplings. In addition, the terms "connected" and "coupled" and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0015] A mattress 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. As used herein, the term "mattress" includes without limitation any

deformable element or structure adapted to support one or more parts, or the entire body, of a human or animal in one or more positions. Examples of mattresses include but are not limited to cushions of any type, including mattress toppers, mattress overlays, futons, and cushions used in beds. It should be appreciated that the features of the mattress 10 described herein are applicable to any type of mattress having any size and shape. The mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 includes a top surface 12 configured to face and support a user, and a bottom surface 14 positioned to be proximate a frame, floor, or other surface to support the mattress 10. The illustrated mattress 10 defines a length 16, a width 18, and an outer perimeter nominally equal to the sum of two times the length 16 and two times the width 18.

[0016] With continued reference to the mattress of Figs. 1 and 2, the mattress 10 includes a bottom layer 20 and a top layer 22. The bottom layer 20 includes a first body support portion 24, a second body support portion 26, and a divider 28 positioned between the first and second body support portions 24, 26. The first body support portion 24 and the second body support portion 26 are made of high-resilience foam, such as polyurethane foam, while the top layer 22 and the divider 28 are made of viscoelastic foam (sometimes referred to as "memory foam" or "low resilience foam").

[0017] The high-resilience foam of the first and second body support portions 24, 26 provides support to a user and a desirable "bounce" feeling to the mattress 10, while the viscoelastic foam top layer 22 provides a softer and more deformable layer having the low- resilience and body-conforming characteristics that are desirable features of viscoelastic foam. The combination of the viscoelastic foam top layer 22 atop the high-resilience foam body support portions 24, 26 provides a soft yet resilient support surface for a user. In other words, the individual properties of the viscoelastic top layer 22 and the high-resilience first and second body support portions 24, 26 contribute to a total experience in which the individual benefits of an underlying layer of high-resilience foam and an overlying layer of viscoelastic foam are both realized in a single mattress 10. The high-resilience first and second body support portions 24, 26 enhance an individual's mobility on the mattress 10 (particularly at the edges, where entrance onto and exit from other types of mattresses can otherwise be more challenging for some users), while the viscoelastic top layer 22 provides a soft and deformable surface to an overlying portion of the mattress 10.

[0018] With reference to Fig. 2, the divider 28 of the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 substantially isolates the first body support portion 24 from the second body support portion 26 from various types of vibration and other movement. The divider 28 dampens vibration and movement of the first body support portion 24 such that limited vibration and movement are transferred to the second body support portion 26. Therefore, if a first person supported on the first body support portion 24 moves (e.g., enters the bed, exits the bed, or adjusts in position upon the first body support portion 24), a second person on the second body support portion 26 feels little or no movement because of the damping provided by the divider 28. Likewise, the divider 28 dampens vibration and movement of the second body support portion 26 such that limited vibration and movement are transferred to the first body support portion 24. Therefore, if the second person supported on the second body support portion 26 moves (e.g., enters the bed, exits the bed, or adjusts in position upon the second body support portion 26), the first person on the first body support portion 24 feels little or no movement because of the damping provided by the divider 28. [0019] With reference again to the illustrated mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, the mattress 10 can be enclosed within a cover of any type, such as a woven or non- woven material, a knitted material, a material comprising cotton, wool, or other natural fiber, polyester, rayon, nylon, foam, or other synthetic material, and a material that is liquid and vapor impermeable, liquid impermeable and vapor permeable, or liquid and vapor permeable. The mattress 10 can also be covered by one or more sheets.

[0020] The bottom layer 20 of the mattress embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2 has a top surface 30 and a bottom surface that partially defines the mattress bottom surface 14. The bottom layer 20 of the illustrated embodiment also has a length substantially equal to the length 16 of the mattress 10 and a width substantially equal to the width 18 of the mattress 10.

[0021] The first body support portion 24 of the mattress embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2 has a top surface that partially defines the top surface 30 of the bottom layer 20 and a bottom surface that partially defines the bottom surface 14 of the mattress 10. The first body support portion 24 of the illustrated embodiment has a length that is substantially equal to the length 16 of the mattress 10, and a width 32 that is less than the width 18 of the mattress 10. In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 is less than half of the width 18 of the mattress 10. Alternatively, the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 may be about half the width 18 of the mattress 10 or greater than half the width 18 of the mattress 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the first body support portion 24 is made of a single block of foam having a first side 34 at least partially defining the outer perimeter of the mattress 10 and a second side 36 spaced from the first side 34.

[0022] The second body support portion 26 of the mattress embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2 has a top surface that partially defines the top surface 30 of the bottom layer 20 and a bottom surface that partially defines the bottom surface 14 of the mattress 10. The second body support portion 26 of the illustrated embodiment has a length that is substantially equal to the length 16 of the mattress 10, and a width 38 that is less than the width 18 of the mattress 10. In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the width 38 of the second body support portion 26 is less than half of the width 18 of the mattress 10. Alternatively, the width 38 of the second body support portion 26 may be about half the width 18 of the mattress 10 or greater than half the width 18 of the mattress 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the second body support portion 26 is made of a single block of foam having a first side 40 at least partially defining the outer perimeter of the mattress 10 and a second side 42 spaced from the first side 40.

[0023] In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the first body support portion 24 and the second body support portion 26 are substantially identical, such that the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 and the width 38 of the second body support portion 26 are substantially equal. A sum of the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 and the width 38 of the second body support portion 26 is less than the width 18 of the mattress 10.

[0024] With continued reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top surface of the first body support portion 24 is substantially co-planar with the top surface of the second body support portion 26. Likewise, the bottom surface of the first body support portion 24 is substantially co-planar with the bottom surface of the second body support portion 26.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first body support portion 24 and the second body support portion 26 are each made of a block of high-resilience foam material, such as a polyurethane foam, a latex foam, any expanded polymer (e.g., expanded ethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene). The first and second body support portions 24, 26 may also be made of reticulated or non-reticulated foam.

Reticulated foam is a cellular foam structure in which the cells of the foam are essentially skeletal. In other words, the cells of the reticulated foam are each defined by a plurality of apertured windows surrounded by cell struts. The cell windows of reticulated foam can be entirely missing (leaving only the cell struts) or substantially missing. Foam may be considered "reticulated" if at least 50% of the windows of the cells are missing (i.e., windows having apertures therethrough, or windows that are completely missing and therefore leaving only the cell struts). Such structures can be created by the destruction or removal of cell window material, or preventing the complete formation of cell windows during the manufacturing process of the foam.

[0026] With reference again to Figs. 1 and 2, the divider 28 extends along a longitudinal axis of the mattress 10, and in the illustrated embodiment extends (along with the first and second body support portions 24, 26) from the head to the foot of the mattress 10. The illustrated divider 28 has a top surface that partially defines the top surface 30 of the bottom layer 20, and a bottom surface that partially defines the bottom surface 14 of the mattress 10. The divider 28 also has a length that is substantially equal to the length 16 of the mattress 10 and a width 44 that is less than the width 18 of the mattress 10. In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the width 44 of the divider 28 is less than the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 and is less than the width 38 of the second body support portion 26. In some embodiments, the width 44 of the divider 28 is between about 0.1 and about 0.5 times the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 and/or is between about 0.1 and about 0.5 times the width 32 of the second body support portion 26. Alternatively, in some

embodiments, the width 44 of the divider 28 is between about 0.125 and about 0.25 times the width 32 of the first body support portion 24 and/or is between about 0.125 and about 0.25 times the width 32 of the second body support portion 26. Also, in some embodiments the width 44 of the divider 28 is no greater than about 0.25 times the width of the of the first body support portion 24 and/or is no greater than about 0.25 times the width of second body support portion 26.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 2, the divider 28 of the illustrated embodiment includes a first side 46 adjacent the second side 36 of the first body support portion 24, and a second side 48 adjacent the second side 42 of the second body support portion 26. The top surface of the illustrated divider 28 is substantially co-planar with the top surface of at least one of the first and second body support portions 24, 26. Likewise, the bottom surface of the illustrated divider 28 is substantially co-planar with the bottom surface of at least one of the first and second body support portions 24, 26.

[0028] With continued reference to Fig. 2, the illustrated divider 28 is secured to both of the first body support portion 24 and the second body support portion 26. The divider 28 can be secured to the first and second body support portions 24, 26 using an adhesive or in any other suitable manner. Alternatively, in other embodiments the divider 28 is only secured to one of the first and second body support portions 24, 26.

[0029] The viscoelastic foam divider 28 can comprise reticulated or non-reticulated viscoelastic foam. Reticulated viscoelastic foam has characteristics that are also well suited for use in the mattress 10, including the enhanced ability to permit fluid movement through the reticulated viscoelastic foam, thereby providing enhanced air and/or heat movement within, through, and away from the reticulated viscoelastic foam. [0030] In some embodiments, the viscoelastic foam used in the mattress 10 (i.e., for the divider 28 and the top layer 22) has a hardness of at least about 30 N and no greater than about 175 N for desirable softness and body-conforming qualities. In other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam of the mattress 10 has a hardness of at least about 40 N and no greater than about 110 N for this purpose. In still other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam of the mattress 10 has a hardness of at least about 40 N and no greater than about 75 N. Unless otherwise specified, the hardness of a material referred to herein is measured by exerting pressure from a plate against a sample of the material having length and width dimensions of 40 centimeters (cm) each (defining a surface area of the sample of material), and a thickness of 5 cm to a compression of 40% of an original thickness of the material at approximately room temperature (e.g., 21-23 Degrees Celsius), wherein the 40% compression is held for a set period of time following the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 2439 hardness measuring standard.

[0031] The viscoelastic foam used in the illustrated mattress 10 can also have a density providing a relatively high degree of material durability. The density of the viscoelastic foam used in the illustrated mattress 10 can also impact other characteristics of the foam, such as the manner in which the mattress 10 responds to pressure and the feel of the foam. In some embodiments, the viscoelastic foam of the mattress 10 has a density of no less than about 30 kg/m³ and no greater than about 175 kg/m³. In other embodiments, this mattress foam has a density of at least about 40 kg/m³ and no greater than about 130 kg/m³. In still other embodiments, this mattress foam has a density of at least about 50 kg/m³ and no greater than about 120 kg/m³.

[0032] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the top layer 22 of the mattress 10 has a top surface that also defines the top surface 12 of the mattress 10, and a bottom surface 50. In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the top layer 22 has a length substantially equal to the length 16 of the mattress 10 and a width substantially equal to the width 18 of the mattress 10. As such, an outer perimeter of the top layer 22 is substantially equal to the outer perimeter of the mattress 10. The top layer 22 may be made of any type of foam; however, particular advantages are realized in using reticulated or non-reticulated viscoelastic foam for the top layer 22, including those described above. Such viscoelastic foam may have the same or similar properties as the above-described viscoelastic foam used for the divider 28, whereas in other embodiments, the top layer 22 may be made of a viscoelastic foam having different properties than that used for the divider 28.

[0033] In the illustrated construction of the mattress 10, the top layer 22 is secured to the bottom layer 20 by an adhesive or in any other suitable manner. Alternatively, the top layer 22 may be removably coupled to the bottom layer 20 in any manner desired. In some embodiments, only select portions of the top layer 22 and the bottom layer 20 are secured to each other using an adhesive or other manner of attachment. Also, in some embodiments, a mattress cover enclosing the top layer 22 and the bottom layer 20 may be used to retain the top layer 22 to the bottom layer 20 in addition to or in lieu of an adhesive, stitching, or other manners of securing. The mattress 10 may alternatively include one or more additional layers of any desired material atop the top layer 22. Preferably, such additional layer(s) are selected so as to not transfer motion or vibration between the body support portions 24, 26 as described herein. By way of example only, the mattress 10 may include one or more additional layers of viscoelastic foam atop the top layer 22 which, in combination with the viscoelastic foam top layer 22, reduces motion transfer or vibration between the individual body support portions 24, 26.

[0034] With reference to the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1, the first body support portion 24, the divider 28, and the second body support portion 26 together define an exterior perimeter that is substantially identical to the outer perimeter of the mattress 10. Therefore, a sum of the width 32 of the first body support portion 24, the width 44 of the divider 28, and the width 38 of the second body support portion 26 is equal to the width 18 of the mattress 10. In other embodiments, however, a mattress border at the sides, head, and/or foot of the mattress 10 can be included, such as layers of foam extending alongside the sides, head, and/or foot of the mattress 10 and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

[0035] Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of a mattress 110 according to the present invention. This embodiment employs much of the same structure and has many of the same properties as the embodiments of the mattress described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the following description focuses primarily upon the structure and features that are different than the embodiments described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Reference should be made to the description above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 for additional information regarding the structure and features, and possible alternatives to the structure and features of the mattress 110 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and described below. Structure and features of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 that correspond to structure and features of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 are designated hereinafter in the 100 series of reference numbers.

[0036] The mattress 110 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 includes a bottom layer 120 and a top layer 122, with the bottom layer 120 including a first body support portion 124 and a second body support portion 126 spaced from the first body support portion 124 by a gap 127 defining a gap width 129.

[0037] Like the divider 28 of the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, the gap 127 substantially isolates the first body support portion 124 and the second body support portion 126 from transfer of vibration or other motion between the first and second body support portions 124, 126. By virtue of the gap 127, vibration or other motion is not transferred or is significantly reduced from the first body support portion 124 to the second body support portion 126. Similarly by virtue of the gap 127, vibration or other motion is not transferred or is significantly reduced from the second body support portion 126 to the first body support portion 124. In some embodiments, the gap width 129 is large enough to inhibit or prevent contact between the first body support portion 124 and the second body support portion 126, or is at least large enough to prevent sufficient engagement between the first and second body support portions 124, 126 to transfer substantial vibration or other motion between the first and second body support portions 124, 126 across such engagement. The gap width 129 is relatively small compared to the overall width 118 of the mattress 110 to avoid unnecessary weakening of the structural integrity of the mattress 110, and to provide sufficient support for a user atop the gap 127 of the mattress 110. For example, in some embodiments of the mattress 110, the gap width 129 may be between about 0.25 inches and about 1 inch. In other embodiments, the gap width 129 may be between about 0.3 inches and about 0.9 inches. In yet other embodiments, the gap width 129 may be between about 0.5 inches and about 0.75 inches.

[0038] With continued reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the gap 127 extends along a

longitudinal axis of the mattress 10, and in the illustrated embodiment extends (along with the first and second body support portions 124, 126) from the head to the foot of the mattress 110. The bottom layer 120 of the mattress 110 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 has a first top surface 130 and a first bottom surface that can be defined by the mattress bottom surface 114. Also, the illustrated bottom layer 120 has a length substantially equal to the length 116 of the mattress 110 and a width substantially equal to the width 118 of the mattress 110. The first body support portion 124, the gap 127, and the second body support portion 126 together define an exterior perimeter that is substantially identical to the outer perimeter defined by the mattress 110. A sum of the width 132 of the first body support portion 124, the gap width 129, and the width 138 of the second body support portion 126 is substantially equal to the width 118 of the mattress 110.

[0039] Like the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, the mattress 110 may alternatively include one or more additional layers of any desired material atop the top layer 122. Preferably, such additional layer(s) are selected so as to not transfer motion or vibration between the body support portions 124, 126 as described herein. By way of example only, the mattress 110 may include one or more additional layers of viscoelastic foam atop the top layer 122 which, in combination with the viscoelastic foam top layer 122, reduces motion transfer or vibration between the individual body support portions 124, 126.

[0040] Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a mattress 210 according to the present invention. This embodiment employs much of the same structure and has many of the same properties as the mattress 10 described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the following description focuses primarily upon the structure and features that are different than those described above in connection with the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2. Reference should be made to the description above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 for additional information regarding the structure and features, and possible alternatives to the structure and features of the mattress 210 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and described below. Structure and features of the mattress 210 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 that correspond to structure and features of the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 are designated hereinafter in the 200 series of reference numbers.

[0041] In the mattress 210 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, multiple viscoelastic foam blocks 260 are disposed in a spaced-apart arrangement along the gap 227 that partitions the first and second body support portions 224, 226, respectively, from one another. Each block 260 is preferably comprised of viscoelastic material and thus is resistant to the transfer of motion between body support portions 224, 226. The number and/or spacing of air pockets 227' between blocks 260 can vary and thus the invention is not limited to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Each block 260 is preferably secured to both of the first body support portion 224 and the second body support portion 226 using an adhesive or any other suitable manner. Alternately, each block 260 may only be secured to one of the body support portions 224, 226. Moreover, it is understood that the viscoelastic blocks 260 may comprise reticulated or non-reticulated viscoelastic material, and the viscoelastic makeup of the blocks 260 within the mattress 210 can vary.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a mattress 310 according to the present invention. This embodiment employs much of the same structure and has many of the same properties as the mattress 10 described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the following description focuses primarily upon the structure and features that are different than those described above in connection with the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2. Reference should be made to the description above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 for additional information regarding the structure and features, and possible alternatives to the structure and features of the mattress 310 illustrated in Fig. 7 and described below. Structure and features of the mattress 310 shown in Fig. 7 that correspond to structure and features of the mattress 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 are designated hereinafter in the 300 series of reference numbers.

[0043] The mattress 310 includes a viscoelastic divider 328 having a variable width along the length of the mattress 310. So, for example, it is contemplated that the volume of motion transfer resistant material, i.e., air and/or viscoelastic material, may be greater in the center region of the mattress 310, generally designated at 362, than the head region 364 and/or foot region 366 of the mattress 320, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0044] The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A mattress, comprising:

a divider extending along a longitudinal axis of the mattress, the divider comprising viscoelastic foam;

a first body support portion including high-resilience foam and positioned adjacent a first side of the divider; and

a second body support portion including high-resilience foam and positioned adjacent a second side of the divider opposite the first side of the divider for isolating the second body support portion from the first body support portion.

2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first and second body support portions each comprise at least one layer of high-resilience foam.

3. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the divider is secured to the first and second body support portions.

4. The mattress of claim 3, wherein the divider is secured to the first and second body support portions by an adhesive.

5. The mattress of claim 1, further comprising a foam layer overlying at least one of the first and second body support portions.

6. The mattress of claim 5, wherein the foam layer overlies the divider and the first and second body support portions.

7. The mattress of claim 6, wherein the foam layer is secured to the divider and the first and second body support portions.

8. The mattress of claim 6, wherein respective lengths of the divider, the foam layer, and the first and second body support portions are substantially identical.

9. The mattress of claim 8, wherein a width of the foam layer is at least as large as a combined width of the divider, the first body support portion, and the second body support portion.

10. The mattress of claim 8, wherein the combined width of the divider, the first body support portion, and the second body support portion is substantially equal to a width of the mattress.

11. The mattress of claim 8, wherein the foam layer has a length that is substantially equal to a length of the mattress, and wherein the foam layer has a width that is substantially equal to a width of the mattress.

12. The mattress of claim 5, wherein the foam layer is made of a viscoelastic foam.

13. The mattress of claim 12, wherein the viscoelastic foam layer overlies the divider and the first and second body support portions.

14. The mattress of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second body support portions includes a first side positioned adjacent the divider and an opposite second side, and wherein the respective second sides of the first and second body support portions at least partially define an outer periphery of the mattress.

15. The mattress of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the first body support portion is substantially co-planar with a top surface of the second body support portion.

16. The mattress of claim 15, wherein a top surface of the divider is substantially co- planar with the top surface of the first body support portion and the top surface of the second body support portion.

17. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first body support portion and the second body support portion are secured to the divider and define a perimeter around an exterior of the first body support portion, second body support portion, and divider, and wherein the perimeter is substantially identical to an outer perimeter defined by the mattress.

18. A mattress, comprising :

a first body support portion extending longitudinally from a head of the mattress to a foot of the mattress;

a second body support portion extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress;

a gap defined between the first and second body support portions and extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress, the gap unoccupied by material; and

a layer of viscoelastic foam covering and attached to the first and second body support portions, and bridging the gap between the first and second body support portions.

19. A mattress, comprising :

a gap defined between the first and second body support portions and extending longitudinally from the head of the mattress to the foot of the mattress; and

viscoelastic material disposed in the gap and that resists motion transfer between the first body support and the second body support portions.

20. The mattress of claim 19 further comprising a layer of viscoelastic foam covering the first and second body support portions.