Apparatus and method for automatic adjustment of a support surface with interwoven support elements

A method for adjusting an active length of at least some of a plurality of interwoven support elements of a weight bearing surface overlying a frame to conform to contours of a user's anatomy, the method comprising:

• providing an adjustment mechanism connected to a chassis;
• connecting the chassis to the frame;
• connecting the adjustment mechanism to one of the plurality of interwoven support elements wherein the adjustment mechanism is a tensioner comprising a spring or a friction mechanism;
• positioning a user upon said weight bearing surface;
• allowing the adjustment mechanism to change the active length of the connected interwoven support element in response to weight of the user bearing upon the weight bearing surface;
• removing the user from the weight bearing surface after the active length of at least one of the plurality of interwoven support elements has been changed in response to weight of the user bearing upon the weight bearing surface;
• releasing the adjustment mechanism from the connected interwoven support;
• releasing the chassis from the frame;
• retaining each of the interwoven support elements in its adjusted configuration such that the support surface can be custom shaped to the particular contour of a specific user.

A method for adjusting an active length of at least some of a plurality of interwoven support elements of a weight bearing surface to conform to contours of a user's anatomy, the method comprising:

• providing an adjustment mechanism connected to one of the plurality of interwoven support elements;
• positioning a user upon said weight bearing surface;
• allowing the adjustment mechanism to change the active length of the connected interwoven support element in response to weight of the user bearing upon the weight bearing surface;
• removing the user from the weight bearing surface after the active length of at least some of the plurality of interwoven support elements has been changed in response to weight of the user bearing upon the weight bearing surface;
• and
• retaining each of the interwoven support elements in its adjusted configuration such that the support surface can be custom shaped to the particular contour of a specific user.