Enhanced mobility mattress

Abstract

A mattress includes a first layer of viscoelastic foam having an upper surface and a layer of non-viscoelastic foam supporting the first layer. The mattress also includes a plurality of static bolster elements positioned beneath the upper surface and clustered together to define a plurality of troughs between adjacent bolster elements. The first layer of viscoelastic foam is further compressible in regions of the mattress corresponding with the troughs than surrounding regions corresponding with the bolster elements. Each of the bolster elements is capable of exerting a reaction force having a lateral component on an individual pushing against the bolster element with a line of action through one of the troughs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress comprising:
 a first layer of viscoelastic foam having an upper surface;   a layer of non-viscoelastic foam supporting the first layer; and   a plurality of static bolster elements positioned beneath the upper surface and clustered together to define a plurality of troughs between adjacent bolster elements, wherein the first layer of viscoelastic foam is further compressible in regions of the mattress corresponding with the troughs than surrounding regions corresponding with the bolster elements, and wherein each of the bolster elements is capable of exerting a reaction force having a lateral component on an individual pushing against the bolster element with a line of action through, one of the troughs.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are elongated in a length dimension of the mattress. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the troughs are elongated in the length dimension of the mattress. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the bolster elements extend substantially the entire length of the mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements and the troughs are parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are elongated in a thickness dimension of the mattress. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements include a greater hardness than the first layer of viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein the first layer of viscoelastic foam includes a hardness of at least about 20 N and no greater than about 80 N. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of non-viscoelastic foam is one of a latex foam and a high-resilience polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 9 , wherein, the latex foam includes a hardness of at least about 30 N and no greater than about 130 N, and wherein the high-resilience polyurethane foam includes a hardness of at least about 80 N and no greater than about 200 N. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the latex foam includes a density of no less than about 40 kg/m 3  and no greater than about 100 kg/m 3 , and wherein the high-resilience polyurethane foam includes a density of no less than about 10 kg/m 3  and no greater than about 80 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of viscoelastic foam includes a density of no less than about 30 kg/m 3  and no greater than about 150 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements include a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 13 , wherein the bolster elements are cylindrical and arranged in a side-by-side manner. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 14 , wherein each of the troughs is defined by convex surfaces of adjacent cylindrical bolster elements, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress of  claim 15 , wherein a line of action of the reaction force exerted by one of the bolster elements in response to an individual pushing against the bolster element is oriented substantially normal to the convex surface of the bolster element. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements include a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress of  claim 17 , wherein the bolster elements include a hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and wherein the bolster elements are arranged in a side-by-side manner. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress of  claim 18 , wherein each of the troughs is defined by flat surfaces of adjacent hexagonal bolster elements, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The mattress of  claim 19 , wherein a line of action of the reaction force exerted by one of the bolster elements in response to an individual pushing against the bolster element is oriented substantially normal to the flat surface of the bolster element. 
     
     
         21 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are arranged in a first row positioned beneath the upper surface and a second row positioned beneath the first row. 
     
     
         22 . The mattress of  claim 21 , wherein the bolster elements in the first and second rows are also aligned in an array of columns. 
     
     
         23 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent bolster elements are contiguous. 
     
     
         24 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent bolster elements are integrally formed as a single piece. 
     
     
         25 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements include a greater hardness than either of the first layer of viscoelastic foam or the non-viscoelastic foam layer of non-viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         26 . The mattress of  claim 25 , wherein the bolster elements include a hardness of at least about 200 N. 
     
     
         27 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are made of, a polymeric material. 
     
     
         28 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are made of polystyrene foam. 
     
     
         29 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are embedded in the layer of non-viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         30 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the bolster elements are positioned between the first layer of viscoelastic foam and the non-viscoelastic foam layer of non-viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         31 . A mattress comprising:
 a first layer of viscoelastic foam having an upper surface;   a layer of non-viscoelastic foam supporting the first layer; and   a plurality of static bolster elements positioned beneath the upper surface and clustered together to define a plurality of troughs between adjacent bolster elements, wherein the bolster elements and the troughs extend in a direction parallel to a length of the mattress, and wherein the bolster elements include a hardness that is at least about 2.5 times a hardness of the first layer of viscoelastic foam.   
     
     
         32 . The mattress of  claim 31 , wherein the first layer of viscoelastic foam includes a hardness of at least about 20 N and no greater than about 80 N. 
     
     
         33 . The mattress of  claim 32 , wherein the bolster elements include a hardness of at least about 200 N. 
     
     
         34 . The mattress of  claim 31 , wherein the hardness of the bolster elements is between about 2.5 times and about 10 times the hardness of the first layer of viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         35 . The mattress of  claim 31 , wherein the first layer of viscoelastic foam is further compressible in regions of the mattress corresponding with the troughs than surrounding regions corresponding with the bolster elements, and wherein each of the bolster elements is capable of exerting a reaction force having a lateral component on an individual pushing against the bolster element with a line of action through one of the troughs.