Unitized thermoplastic foam structures

Abstract

Three-dimensional unitized thermoplastic foam structures are made by thermoplastic welding of different foam components. The unitized foam structures may include a planar base to which other foam components are welded to project from the base and provide a flexible three-dimensional structure. The thermal bonding or welding of the thermoplastic foam components creates a unitized structure which is both flexible and load bearing. For mattress and seating applications, the welded foam structures may be combined with an innerspring, and certain of the foam components of the structure may mechanically engage parts of the innerspring. The preferred foam deck has first and second panels interconnected by one or more webs. One or more foam decks may be employed. Other foam components may be attached to the foam decks or other components. The unitized foam structures can be employed as single or double-sided mattresses, seating structures or other flexible support structures.

1 . A unitized thermoplastic foam structure mattress comprising: 
 an innerspring having a plurality of spring elements arranged in an array and defining a first support side, a second support side parallel to the first support side, and a perimeter about the first and second support sides;    a foam deck adjacent one of the support sides of the innerspring, and at least one additional foam component welded to the foam deck and engaged with the innerspring.    
     
     
         2 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the innerspring is a wire form innerspring having a plurality of interconnected coils, terminal ends of the coils forming the support sides of the innerspring.  
     
     
         3 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the foam deck has first and second parallel and spaced apart panels, and a wall structure between the panels.  
     
     
         4 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the foam deck is comprised of a plurality of attached segments.  
     
     
         5 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the foam deck is comprised of a plurality of box beam segments.  
     
     
         6 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 5  wherein the box beam segments have first and second panels and at least one web between the first and second panels.  
     
     
         7 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the foam deck has a thickness dimension which is approximately one-sixth a height dimension of the innerspring.  
     
     
         8 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 2  wherein the foam deck has an area greater than the support sides of the innerspring.  
     
     
         9 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 3  wherein a surface area of a panel of the foam deck is approximately equal to a surface area of a support side of the innerspring and the at least one additional foam component.  
     
     
         10 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional foam component has a height dimension approximately equal to or greater than a height dimension of the innerspring.  
     
     
         11 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional foam component is located at a periphery of the innerspring.  
     
     
         12 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  further comprising an additional foam deck adjacent a support side of the innerspring.  
     
     
         13 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 12  wherein the at least one additional foam component extends from one foam deck to the additional foam deck.  
     
     
         14 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 12  wherein the at least one additional foam component extends from one foam deck to the other foam deck and about a perimeter of the innerspring to substantially encapsulate the innerspring.  
     
     
         15 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  further comprising a second foam component located on a support side of the innerspring opposite the foam deck.  
     
     
         16 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  further comprising at least one layer of padding adjacent a support side of the innerspring opposite the foam deck, and upholstery over the layer of padding.  
     
     
         17 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional foam component is in the form of a box beam.  
     
     
         18 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  further comprising an edge component which extends from a panel of the foam deck and engages with the innerspring.  
     
     
         19 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  further comprising separate foam components engaged with the innerspring.  
     
     
         20 . The unitized foam structure mattress of  claim 1  wherein the foam deck and the at least one additional foam component are comprised of material from the class of polyolefins.  
     
     
         21 . A mattress comprising: 
 a thermoplastic foam deck having a planar support surface;    an innerspring positioned upon the support surface of the foam deck, and at least one additional foam component which is in contact with the planar support surface of the foam deck and engaged with the innerspring.    
     
     
         22 . The mattress of  claim 21  wherein the at least one additional foam component is located at a perimeter of the innerspring.  
     
     
         23 . The mattress of  claim 21  wherein the foam deck is comprised of a plurality of thermoplastic box beams which are welded together.  
     
     
         24 . The mattress of  claim 21  wherein the at least one additional foam component is welded to a planar support surface of the thermoplastic foam deck.  
     
     
         25 . The mattress of  claim 24  wherein the thermoplastic foam deck and the at least one additional foam component are made of polyolefin foam material which is bonded together by a thermal weld formed at an interface between the thermoplastic foam deck and the at least one additional foam component.  
     
     
         26 . A unitized foam structure comprising: 
 a thermoplastic foam deck with two parallel planar surfaces;    a reflexive body in the form of a foam block having a planar surface positioned adjacent to one of the two planar parallel surfaces of the thermoplastic foam deck, and    at least one additional thermoplastic foam component positioned adjacent to the reflexive body and welded to the thermoplastic foam deck.    
     
     
         27 . The unitized foam structure of  claim 26  wherein the thermoplastic foam deck and at least one additional thermoplastic foam component are made of polyolefin foam material, and the reflexive body is made of polyurethane.  
     
     
         28 . The unitized foam structure of  claim 26  wherein the thermoplastic foam deck and at least one additional thermoplastic foam component are made of polyolefin foam material, and the reflexive body is made of latex.  
     
     
         29 . The unitized foam structure of  claim 26  further comprising a second thermoplastic foam deck positioned adjacent to a planar surface of the reflexive body, and wherein the at least one additional thermoplastic foam component is also welded to the second thermoplastic foam deck.  
     
     
         30 . The unitized foam structure of  claim 26  wherein the at least one additional foam component is located at a perimeter of the reflexive body and the thermoplastic foam deck.  
     
     
         31 . The unitized foam structure of  claim 26  wherein the at least one additional foam component extends substantially perpendicular from a planar surface of the thermoplastic foam deck.