Texture masking of a patterned gel layer of a mattress

A mattress cover, comprising:

• a top panel positionable over an upper surface of an internal mattress that includes an upper cushioning element comprising an elastomeric gel defining a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells, the interconnected walls and the array of cells defining a patterned gel layer, the top panel comprising:
• an outer surface formed from a fabric;
• a mask layer secured in place beneath the outer surface and comprising an elastomeric gel material defining a plurality of walls defining a patterned gel layer that is different than the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element and that masks a texture of an upper surface of the patterned gel layer;
• and
• a lower surface formed from the fabric;
• and
• a periphery extending downwardly from edges of the top panel and laterally surrounding a periphery of the internal mattress assembly,
• wherein the top panel removably couples with the upper surface of the upper cushioning element and the periphery of the mattress cover removably couples with the periphery of the upper cushioning element.

A method for masking a texture of an upper surface of an internal mattress that includes an upper cushioning element comprising an elastomeric gel defining a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of cells, the interconnected walls and the array of cells defining a patterned gel layer, the method comprising:

• placing a mattress cover over the internal mattress, including:
• positioning a top panel of the mattress cover over an upper surface of the patterned gel layer, including orienting an outer fabric layer of the top panel outwardly away from the upper surface and orienting a lower fabric layer of the top panel toward the upper surface such that a mask layer of the top panel, comprising an elastomeric gel material defining a plurality of walls defining a patterned gel layer that is different than the patterned gel layer of the upper cushioning element, is disposed between the outer fabric layer and the upper surface of the patterned gel layer;
• and
• positioning a periphery of the mattress cover around a periphery of the internal mattress assembly,
• wherein the mattress cover is removably placed over the internal mattress such that the top panel of the mattress cover removably couples with the upper surface of the upper cushioning element and the periphery of the mattress cover removably couples with the periphery of the upper cushioning element.