Support apparatus with gel layer

Abstract

Apparatuses for supporting at least a portion of the body thereon, including a mattress or a mattress topper, include a polyurethane gel layer overlying at least one support layers in a foam material. The gel layer has a hardness of 4.5 kPa±1.5 kPa and a hysteresis of about 40%±10%. The gel layer faces a user, such that the gel layer confers objective and subjective comfort at the same time.

1 . A mattress or mattress topper for supporting at least a portion of the body thereon, comprising a gel layer overlying at least one support layer in a foam material, wherein said gel layer comprises a gel having a hardness of 4.5 kPa±1.5 kPa and a hysteresis of about 40%±10%, wherein said gel layer comprises a polyurethane gel facing a user, such that the gel layer confers objective and subjective comfort at a same time. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more additional support layers selected from the group consisting of a foam layer, a spring layer, a textile layer, a gas layer, a wood layer, a metal layer, a plastic layer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a covering overlying said gel layer, said covering being selected from the group consisting of a textile layer, a film layer, a coating layer, and a foam layer and placed above the gel layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein there are no additional support layers positioned above said gel layer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gel layer is integrally attached to at least one of said one or more additional support layers. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said foam is convoluted foam. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said foam comprises one or more cavities for receiving said gel layer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gel layer and said foam layer are chemically bonded together. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gel layer has a thickness of 8 mm or more. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface facing the user comprises a plurality of small towers that arise from the planar surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A mattress apparatus for supporting at least a portion of the body thereon, comprising:
 a gel layer overlying at least one support layers in a foam material, the gel layer including:   a polyurethane gel having a hardness of 4.5 kPa±1.5 kPa and a hysteresis of about 40%±10%, where said polyurethane gel faces a user, such that the gel layer confers objective and subjective comfort at a same time; and   a contoured surface of the polyurethane gel comprising tower structures.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the tower structures have a top area that is at least three times greater than a lateral area. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein a downward pressure on the contoured surface cause a tri-dimensional deflection of the tower structures, such that material displaced from the tower structures occupies a gap between the tower structures. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the tower structures have a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the tower structures have a hexagonal cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the tower structures have a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the tower structures are parallel curved plateaus. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the gel layer has a thickness of about 8-15 mm and the tower structures are separated by a gap about 4-6 mm across.