Pressure dispersion support systems

Abstract

A pressure dispersion system includes a pressure dispersion pad and a pressure dispersing mattress system for body support and sleep. The pressure dispersion pad and pressure dispersing mattress systems reduce pressure points from a supported body to less than approximately 32 mm Hg to reduce or eliminate capillary closing and a resultant reduction in pressure concentration and resultant discomfort and repositioning during sleep. Empirical design from human body pressure mapping is used to identify support zones for which components are selected and assembled in the pressure dispersion support systems for pressure dispersion and relief. In a pressure dispersion support system in the form of a mattress, multiple zones are defined by arrangement of different kinds of support materials, including foam tops such as memory foam or moderate to low density polyurethane, and secondary foam layers or foam base of relatively higher density polyurethane and latex. Different types of foam and foam constructs are provided in different zones of the pressure dispersion pad. Incorporation of the pressure dispersion pad in a mattress system, and in combination with foam dampening inserts in an innerspring of the mattress system, translate the pressure relieving properties of the zoned pressure dispersion pad into a mattress system.

1 . A pressure dispersion pad of substantially rectangular shape comprised of:
 a base support pad,   seven distinct zones or areas of support being integral and coextensive with each other and extending transversely and being arrayed from a head of said pressure dispersion pad to a foot of said pressure dispersion pad wherein four zones are part of the base support pad and three foam inserts are made from latex, visco, NuForm, or combinations thereof to form an additional three zones,   the three foam inserts having a planar top and bottom surface that are placed in three predefined countersunk cut-outs in the base support pad,   wherein, based on pressure mapping data taken using a human subject lying prone with a BMI in the range of 18-40, the percentage of pressure points between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject that exceed 30 mm Hg is 23% or less.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 1  wherein the three foam inserts are approximately 0.5 inches thick and are placed adjacent to zones comprised of convolute polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 1  wherein the base support pad is made of polyurethane foam having a density of approximately 1.10 lb/cu ft and an ILD rate of approximately 28 and being approximately 2 inches thick. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 3  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of visco and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the pressure dispersion pad comprising approximately 85% of polyurethane foam and between approximately 15% latex by weight, and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 23% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 3  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of NuForm and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the pressure dispersion pad being comprised of approximately 57.4% polyurethane foam and approximately 42.6% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 15% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 3  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of soft latex and one inner foam insert is comprised of extra soft latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 55% polyurethane foam and 45% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 14% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 1  wherein the 2-inch base support pad is comprised of polyurethane foam having, a density of approximately 1.20 lb/cu ft and an ILD rate of approximately 14. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 7  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of visco and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the entire pad comprising between 84.7-85.7% of polyurethane foam and between 14.3-15.3% latex by weight, and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 23% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 7  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of NuForm and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 57.4% polyurethane foam and 42.6% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 15% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 7  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of soft latex and one inner foam insert is comprised of extra soft latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 55% polyurethane foam and 45% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 14% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         11 . A pressure dispersing mattress system comprising:
 an innerspring having a plurality of springs connected together in an array wherein the springs are arranged in rows and columns, each spring having a body with a first end and a second end, the body of each spring being generally cylindrical and having a longitudinal axis and an outer diameter, the springs being spaced apart in the rows and columns and connected together in a spaced apart arrangement with each spring being spaced from each spring in the array;   a first layer insulator pad positioned upon a supporting surface formed by the innerspring, a second layer positioned on top of the first layer, the second layer containing at least one polyurethane or latex foam pad, a pressure dispersion pad positioned on top of the second layer, and at least one additional layer positioned on top of the pressure dispersion pad;   the pressure dispersion pad comprising a base support pad, seven distinct zones or areas of support being integral and coextensive with each other and extending transversely and being arrayed from a head of said pressure dispersion pad to a foot of said pressure dispersion pad, wherein four zones are part of the base support pad and three foam inserts are made from latex, visco, NuForm, or a combination thereof, to form an additional three zones, the three foam inserts having a planar top and bottom surface that are placed in three predefined countersunk cut-outs in the base support pad;   wherein, based on pressure mapping done using a human subject with a BMI between 18-40, the percentage of pressure points between the pressure dispersing mattress system and the human subject that are greater than 30 mm Hg is approximately six percent or less.   
     
     
         12 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of visco and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the pressure dispersion pad comprising approximately 85% of polyurethane foam and between approximately 15% latex by weight, and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 23% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of NuForm and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the pressure dispersion pad being comprised of approximately 57.4% polyurethane foam and approximately 42.6% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 15% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         14 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of soft latex and one inner foam insert is comprised of extra soft latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 55% polyurethane foam and 45% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 14% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein the 2-inch base support pad is comprised of polyurethane foam having a density of approximately 1.20 lb/cu ft and an ILD rate of approximately 14. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of visco and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the entire pad comprising between 84.7-85.7% of polyurethane foam and between 143-15.3% latex by weight, and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 23% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of NuForm and one inner foam insert is comprised of latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 57.4% polyurethane foam and 42.6% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 15% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure dispersion pad of  claim 11  wherein two of the outer foam inserts are comprised of soft latex and one inner foam insert is comprised of extra soft latex, the entire pad being comprised of approximately 55% polyurethane foam and 45% latex by weight and based on pressure mapping done with a human subject with a BMI of 27, having approximately 14% of the contacts between the pressure dispersion pad and the human subject being greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure dispersing mattress system of  claim 11  further comprising at least one foam dampening insert engaged with the innerspring, the at least one foam dampening insert having a central core which fits between the bodies of adjacent springs, and a first segment which extends from the central core and into an opening region of a first spring to at least partially intersect a longitudinal axis of the first spring, and a second segment which extends from the central core and into an opening region of a second spring which is adjacent to the first spring and to at lease partially intersect a longitudinal axis of the second spring. 
     
     
         20 . The pressure dispersing mattress system of  claim 11  further comprising four foam dampening inserts engaged with the innerspring are placed within the bodies of adjacent springs and located proximate to seams of the inner five adjacent zones which are comprised of different types of materials. 
     
     
         21 . The pressure dispersing mattress system of  claim 11  wherein the pressure dispersion pad comprises inserts made of material selected from the group of: latex, visco, and NuForm. 
     
     
         22 . The pressure dispersing mattress system of  claim 11  wherein the pressure dispersion pad inserts comprise two different materials selected from the group of: latex, visco, and NuForm. 
     
     
         23 . The pressure dispersing mattress system of  claim 11  in combination with a foundation which is located underneath and proximate to the innerspring of the pressure dispersing mattress system.