Mattress and method for reducing stress concentration when supporting a body

Abstract

The present invention is an improved mattress or cushion enclosed in a functional membrane that relates to the controlling of flexible, rigid or visco-elastic foam, springs, air, fluids, particulates, combinations thereof and foam density variations to meet varying force support needs, as well as other support means that have employed surface technology to modify the basic support characteristics and the interface created therefrom with a supported body in a manner intended to support the body optimally. One potential non-health-related result of the implementation of the present invention is to save national need for petroleum-based products, forestry and expenses attributed to shipping with complicated interface support methods normally incurred as a shipping expense without a reusable feature.

1 . A pressure gradient dampening apparatus comprising: 
 a foam body, having one or more foam force accommodation zones formed at pre-selected selected positions to accommodate and dampen forces applied respectively to said foam body at or near said one or more foam force accommodation zones;    an enclosure member which is reversibly, substantially impermeable to gas and fluid, and in which said foam body is enclosed;    valve means interface d with said enclosure member for permitting introduction of an inflation medium into, or exhaustion of an inflation medium from an interior space of said enclosure member to impart said reversible, substantial impermeability to said enclosure member;    pump means, interfaced with said valve means for facilitating said introduction of an inflation medium into, or exhaustion of an inflation medium from an interior space of said enclosure member.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said foam body comprises multiple, separate foam components, and wherein said enclosure is constructed to have multiple, separately sealed chambers in at least some of which chambers said foam components reside, and wherein valve means are independently operable to separately introduce an inflation medium into, or exhaust of an inflation medium from an interior space of each said chamber of said enclosure member.