Mattress structure

A method for selecting mattress structure components to provide a customized foam mattress structure to accommodate the musculoskeletal condition and interface pressure preference of the user comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of mattress structure components arranged for selective assembly of the components, the components comprising a plurality of foam cores for filling a longitudinally extending central opening in a mattress above which the user rests, the foam cores having a variety of shapes and support and firmness characteristics from which to select a desired assembly;
• providing a test mattress having a similar longitudinally extending central opening filled with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart air bladders extending transversely across the central opening and an air supply for selectively filling each air bladder to various pressures;
• placing a user above the central opening supported on the plurality of air bladders;
• adjusting the air pressure in each bladder to a selected pressure to provide the support and firmness desired by the user;
• selecting an equivalent foam core having the desired support and firmness characteristics corresponding to the selected air pressures;
• and
• placing the selected equivalent foam core in the central opening to provide the customized mattress.

A mattress structure comprising

• a perimetrical frame comprising
• a head end foam section, a foot end foam section and longitudinally extending side foam sections joining the head and foot sections to provide a longitudinally extending foam frame having a central longitudinally extending opening above which the user will rest, the frame sections having upper surfaces lying generally in the same common plane,
• a core structure for filling the central opening, the core structure comprising a plurality of cores and having an upper surface lying generally in the same common plane as the frame section upper surfaces,
• an anti-shear coating on exterior surfaces of the foam frame and cores so as to allow horizontal relative movement between the frame and cores,
• at least one foam topper covering the frame and the core structure in the central opening, and
• a cover enclosing the frame, topper and core structure.

A mattress structure for supporting first and second users, the mattress structure comprising

• a perimetrical frame comprising
• a head end foam section, a foot end foam section, and longitudinally extending side foam sections joining the head and foot sections to provide a foam frame having a longitudinally extending opening above which the users will rest, the opening including a first side opening above which the first user will be supported and a second side opening above which the second user will be supported, the frame sections having upper surfaces laying generally in the same common plane,
• a first core structure for filling the first side opening and a second core structure for filling the second side opening, the first and second core structures having upper surfaces laying generally in the same common plane as the frame section upper surfaces, the first and second core structures having firmness and support characteristics separately customized for their separate users,
• an anti-shear coating on at least one exterior surface of the perimetrical frame and on at least one core structure to allow horizontal relative movement between said perimetrical frame of the at least one core structure,
• a first foam topper covering the frame and the first core structure, and
• a cover enclosing the frame, topper and core structures.