Support cushions for providing cooling

Abstract

A support cushion for is provided that includes a core comprised of a first flexible foam and a sleeve comprised of a second flexible foam. The sleeve has a first side and a second side opposite the first side that together encapsulate the core. The support cushion further includes an amount of phase change material that is incorporated into at least one of the first side or the second side of the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support cushion, comprising:
 a core comprised of a first flexible foam;   a sleeve comprised of a second flexible foam, the sleeve having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and the sleeve encapsulating the core; and   a first amount of phase change material incorporated into at least one of the first side or the second side of the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible foam, the second flexible foam, or both is a visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         3 . The support cushion of  claim 2 , wherein both the first flexible foam and the second flexible foam are visco-elastic foam, and wherein the second flexible foam has a density less than that of the first flexible foam. 
     
     
         4 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible foam includes a plurality of visco-elastic foam fragments. 
     
     
         5 . The support cushion of  claim 4 , wherein the viscoelastic foam fragments include reticulated visco-elastic foam fragments and non-reticulated visco-elastic foam fragments. 
     
     
         6 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the core is a molded foam core. 
     
     
         7 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is incorporated into the first side and the second side of the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material includes a plurality of microspheres. 
     
     
         9 . The support cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner surrounding the sleeve, the liner including a second amount of phase change material. 
     
     
         10 . The support cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the liner is comprised of netting, and wherein the phase change material is incorporated into the netting. 
     
     
         11 . The support cushion of  claim 9 , further comprising an outer cover surrounding the liner. 
     
     
         12 . The support cushion of  claim 11 , wherein the outer cover is comprised of a textile. 
     
     
         13 . The support cushion of  claim 12 , wherein the textile is a cotton. 
     
     
         14 . The support cushion of  claim 12 , wherein the outer cover is comprised of one-hundred percent cotton. 
     
     
         15 . A pillow, comprising:
 a core comprised of reticulated visco-elastic foam;   a sleeve comprised of a visco-elastic foam and encapsulating the core, the sleeve having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the sleeve having a first amount of phase change material incorporated into the visco-elastic foam at the first surface, the second surface, or both; and   a liner surrounding the sleeve, the liner having a second amount of phase change material incorporated into the liner.   
     
     
         16 . The pillow of  claim 15 , wherein the liner is comprised of a flame retardant material. 
     
     
         17 . The pillow of  claim 15 , further comprising an outer cover surrounding the liner, the outer cover being comprised of a textile. 
     
     
         18 . The pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the core further comprises non-reticulated visco-elastic foam. 
     
     
         19 . A pillow, comprising:
 a sleeve encapsulating a plurality of reticulated viscoelastic foam fragments and a plurality of non-reticulated visco-elastic foam fragments, the sleeve having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the sleeve having a first amount of phase change material incorporated into the sleeve at the first surface, the second surface, or both;   a liner surrounding the sleeve, the liner having a second amount of phase change material incorporated into the liner; and   an outer cover surrounding the liner.   
     
     
         20 . The pillow of  claim 19 , wherein the liner is comprised of a flame retardant material. 
     
     
         21 . A pillow, comprising:
 a core including a flexible foam; and   a sleeve encapsulating the core, the sleeve having at least one surface configured to provide cooling to a user lying on the pillow.   
     
     
         22 . The pillow of  claim 21 , wherein the core includes a plurality of non-reticulated visco-elastic foam fragments and a plurality of fibers, and wherein the sleeve includes an amount of phase change material incorporated into the at least one surface of the sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The pillow of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a flame retardant barrier surrounding the core such that the flame retardant barrier is positioned between the core and the sleeve; and   an outer cover surrounding the sleeve, the outer cover being comprised of a textile.