Combined cellular material and innerspring support system

Claim 2

A support system comprising: an innerspring support cell; a flexible cellular support cell positioned upon said innerspring support cell, said flexible cellular support cell comprising a first envelope of flexible material and a core of partially compressed, flexible cellular material occupying the space within said first envelope, wherein the interior of said first envelope is divided into multiple compartments by at least one divider wall, said compartments each being occupied by said partially compressed, flexible cellular material and said compartments communicating with each other through at least one opening in said at least one divider wall; and a second envelope of flexible material surrounding said innerspring and said flexible support cell.

Claim 3

The support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible cellular support cell comprises a damped gas displacement support cell.

Claim 4

The support system of claim 2 wherein said damped gas displacement support cell comprises: a second envelope of flexible material; a core of partially compressed, resilient gas-absorbent cellular material occupying the space within aid second envelope; and a gas constrained within and partially filling said gas-absorbent cellular material.

Claim 5

The support system of claim 3 wherein said gas-absorbent cellular material comprises open celled foam.

Claim 6

The support system of claim 3 wherein said gas-absorbent cellular material comprises cellular polyurethane.

Claim 7

The support system of claim 3 wherein said gas comprises air.

Claim 8

The support system of claim 3 wherein said second envelope of flexible material is manufactured of vinyl.

Claim 9

The support system of claim 3 wherein said second envelope comprises two substantially parallel panels of substantially the same size, each panel having a border surface, said border surfaces of said panels being sealed together in a gas impervious seam, one of said panels serving as a body supporting surface and said core being maintained partially compressed by the panels of said second envelope.

Claim 10

The support system of claim 3 further comprising a relatively thick casing of resilient material surrounding the second envelope.

Claim 11

The support system of claim 9 wherein the casing and the second envelope are adhesively attached to each other.

Claim 12

The support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible cellular support cell comprises multiple damped gas displacement support cells, the flexible cellular material of each of said damped gas displacement support cells comprising gas-absorbent cellular material having a gas constrained therein and partially filling said gas-absorbent cellular material.

Claim 13

The support system of claim 11 wherein said system includes three damped gas displacement support cells longitudinally spaced.

Claim 14

The support system of claim 11 wherein said multiple damped gas displacement support cells are surrounded by a third envelope of resilient material.

Claim 15

The support system of claim 11 wherein said damped fluid displacement support cell comprises: a second envelope of flexible material; a core of resilient fluid-absorbent material occupying substantially all of the space within the second envelope; and a fluid substantially saturating the core.

Claim 16

The support system of claim 14 wherein said fluid-absorbent material comprises cellular polyurethane.

Claim 17

The support system of claim 14 wherein said fluid is a fluid comprising by weight 20 percent propylene glycol, 4 percent alkali-soluble cellulose ether, and water.

Claim 18

The support system of claim 14 wherein said second envelope of flexible material is manufactured of vinyl.

Claim 19

The support system of claim 14 wherein said second envelope comprises two substantially parallel panels of substantially the same size, each panel having a border surface, said border surfaces of said panels being sealed together in a fluid impervious seam, one of said panels serving as a body supporting surface.

Claim 20

The support system of claim 18 wherein the interior of said second envelope is divided into multiple compartments by at least one divider wall, said compartments each being occupied by said core of resilient fluid-absorbent material and said fluid substantially saturating said core.

Claim 21

The support system of claim 14 further comprising a relatively thick casing of resilient material surrounding the second envelope.

Claim 22

The support system of claim 20 wherein the casing and the second envelope are adhesively attached to each other.

Claim 23

The support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible cellular support cell comprises a damped fluid displacement support cell.

Claim 24

The support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible cellular support cell comprises multiple damped fluid displacement support cells, the flexible cellular material of each of said damped fluid displacement support cells comprising fluid-absorbent cellular material substantially saturated with a fluid.

Claim 25

The support system of claim 23 wherein said system includes three damped fluid displacement support cells longitudinally spaced.

Claim 26

The support system of claim 23 wherein said multiple damped fluid displacement support cells are surrounded by a third envelope of resilient material.

Claim 27

The support system of claim 1 wherein said core of partially compressed, flexible cellular material comprises open celled foam.

Claim 28

The support system of claim 1 wherein said core of partially compressed, flexible cellular material comprises polyurethane.

Claim 29

The support system of claim 1 wherein said innerspring support cell comprises a gatched pediatric innerspring support cell.

Claim 30

The support system of claim 1 wherein said second envelope of flexible material is manufactured of vinyl.

Claim 31

The support system of claim 1 wherein said support system comprises a mattress.

Claim 32

The support system of claim 1 wherein said support system comprises a cushion.

Claim 33

The support system of claim 1 further comprising means for positioning said flexible cellular support cell upon said innerspring support cell.

Claim 34

The support system of claim 32 wherein said means for positioning comprises vinyl, said flexible support cell being adhesively attached to said vinyl and said vinyl being connected to said innerspring support cell.

Claim 35

The support system of claim 1 wherein said innerspring support cell is of substantially the same length and width as said flexible cellular support cell.

Claim 36

The support system of claim 34 wherein said innerspring support cell is about twice as thick as said flexible cellular support cell.

Claim 37

A support system comprising: an innerspring support cell; a damped gas displacement support cell positioned upon said innerspring support cell, said damped gas displacement support cell comprising a first envelope of flexible material and a core of partially compressed, resilient gas-absorbent cellular material occupying the space within said first envelope; and a second envelope of flexible material surrounding said innerspring and said damped gas displacement support cell; wherein when no force is applied to said support system, said innerspring support cell exerts substantially no pressure on said damped gas displacement support cell; wherein said second envelope comprises two substantially parallel panels of substantially the same size, each panel having a border surface, said border surfaces of said panels being sealed together in a gas impervious seam, one of said panels serving as a body supporting surface and said core being maintained partially compressed by the panels of said second envelope; and wherein the interior of said second envelope is divided into multiple compartments by at least one divider wall, said compartments each being occupied by said partially compressed, resilient cellular material and said gas constrained therein.

Claim 38

A support system comprising: an innerspring support cell; a damped gas displacement support cell positioned upon said innerspring support cell, said damped gas displacement support cell comprising a first envelope of flexible material and a core of partially compressed, resilient gas-absorbent cellular material occupying the space within said first envelope; and a second envelope of flexible material surrounding said innerspring and said damped gas displacement support cell; wherein when no force is applied to said support system, said innerspring support cell exerts substantially no pressure on said damped gas displacement support cell; wherein said second envelope comprises two substantially parallel panels of substantially the same size, each panel having a border surface, said border surfaces of said panels being sealed together in a gas impervious seam, one of said panels serving as a body supporting surface and said core being maintained partially compressed by the panels of said second envelope; and wherein the interior of said second envelope is divided into multiple compartments by at least one divider wall, said compartments each being occupied by said partially compressed, resilient cellular material and said gas constrained therein.

Claim 39

The support system of claim 36 wherein said compartments communicate with each other through at least one opening in said at least one divider wall.

Claim 40

The support system of claim 36 wherein at least one of said compartments is occupied with a compressed, resilient cellular material of different density than the density of the compressed, resilient cellular material in another one of said multiple compartments.